16 News

Schools across NSW have received guidelines to support planning for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) written exams that start on 20 October.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said students need to be reassured that everything is being done to make sure they can sit their HSC without disruption.
“HSC trials were held without major incident and we are now working with schools to implement guidelines and procedures that reduce the risk of a COVID-19 disruption for our HSC students,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We are continuing to prioritise health advice as we support schools in planning for and operating the HSC exams. The safety of students and staff involved remains our priority.
“A COVID-safe plan is about minimising disruption to students if there is a confirmed case at their school.”
The guidelines, developed in consultation with NSW Health, have been issued to principals by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), who are responsible for the HSC.
NESA Chief Executive Officer Paul Martin said that he recognised preparing for the HSC exams during this pandemic is challenging.
“The aim of these guidelines is to provide as much clarity to schools and reassurance to students as possible, in line with health advice as we approach exams,” Mr Martin said.
In their planning, schools have been asked to consider:

• Prioritising a section of the school for rapid cleaning as well as having an alternative venue on standby.
• Developing exam day protocols including health screening, in line with sector or school policies and protocols.
• Recruiting additional exam supervisors.

Ms Mitchell said the Department has issued guidelines to Principals today asking them to limit student numbers to 75 students per exam room, limit HSC student interaction with the rest of the school and prioritise cleaning for exam venues.
“Each school’s contingency plans will be unique, school principals will be supported by their local directors and the department to develop and implement their individual plans.
“Schools have done an outstanding job in supporting their HSC students this year and the Class of 2020 have worked exceptionally hard under these circumstances.”
Sector guidance will be issued to schools to support implementation of NESA guidelines.

The first locally built ventilators in NSW are set to roll off the production line in the coming months following a manufacturing call to arms by the NSW Government.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian issued a call to arms five months ago appealing to businesses to pivot into producing critical medical supplies in the fight against COVID-19.
“Global supply chains were disrupted and our local universities and manufacturers stepped in and joined forces to develop prototype ventilators,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Two ventilators are on track to receive regulatory approval within weeks and, if needed, can be produced for hospitals here and potentially overseas, saving lives and boosting jobs.”
Mr Hazzard said The Ventilator Innovation Project was part of the NSW Government’s $800 million investment to help increase services and equipment to combat COVID-19.
“Having access to a ventilator can be the difference between life and death for severe COVID cases and, sadly, we know the effects of shortages overseas,” Mr Hazzard said.
“In some of the worst-hit nations, health staff were forced to choose who got access to a ventilator; so we need a reliable local supply chain to safeguard NSW patients.”
Mr Ayres said the pandemic had inspired a wave of innovation and rapid development across the globe, and local manufacturers and universities had risen to the challenge.
“One thing history has shown us is that crises stimulate innovation and this pandemic has provided an environment for launching and testing new ideas,” Mr Ayres said.
“We congratulate the successful teams behind the CoVida ventilator, led by the University of Sydney, with clinicians at Westmead and Royal North Shore Hospitals, and Ventasys, developed by AmpControl with clinicians at the John Hunter Hospital.”

Three Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) have been issued since the last COVID-19 update.

• Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District yesterday (Tuesday 8 September 2020) issued the licensee of a hotel on Montefiores Street, Wellington, with a $1000 PIN after receiving prior warnings for breaches including overcrowding, patrons not being seated and not practising physical distancing.

• Two people have been issued PINs following an altercation at a hotel in Albury. The man and woman were with family members at the hotel on Dean Street yesterday (Tuesday 8 September 2020), when police were called about an altercation between the group. Checks revealed the pair, from Victoria, had a permit to be in NSW; however, the permit stated they should minimise contact with others for two weeks. Both were issued a $1000 PIN.

Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.

Creating innovative asphalt using recycled crushed glass (RCG) is now even easier thanks to new guidelines released by the NSW Government.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the guidelines would help industry navigate the steps for establishing and operating glass-recycling facilities, and processing glass to the standard required for use by Transport for NSW.
“Transport for NSW has already incorporated the use of recycled crushed glass on a number of its construction and maintenance projects, and has the potential to use up to 45,000 tonnes in the next three financial years, which equates to 234 million glass bottles,” Mr Constance said.
In addition, the NSW Government has awarded more than $735,000 in grants to three separate projects which will unlock new markets for the use of recycled glass in road construction.
Fulton Hogan has been awarded a $250,000 to upgrade its Eastern Creek asphalt plant and a further $236,000 grant to use recycled glass as a replacement for natural sand in asphalt on construction of the Albion Park Rail Bypass.
Construction company, John Holland has also received a grant of $249,987 to develop and trial geopolymer concrete containing recycled crushed glass as a replacement for virgin sand.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said these grants will encourage the reuse of construction and demolition waste, and also encourage the use of recyclable materials such as glass, plastics and cardboard in civil construction projects.
“Through this grant program, the NSW Government is boosting the future of recycling services in NSW, and helping industry prepare for the ban on the export of waste glass from Australia, coming into effect in January next year.” Mr Kean said.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said this technology would not just benefit the city, but would also be used on regional roads.
“The NSW Government is leading the way in delivering innovative solutions that can allow us to build more roads at less cost, while minimising the impact on the environment, so it’s great to see what would have been waste products given a new life in new roads such as the Albion Park Rail Bypass,” Mr Toole said.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said councils have supported the use of recycled materials in the roads sector, including local roads, and will continue to do so as part of the NSW Government’s plan to increase the use of recycled materials.
“We will continue to work with industry and councils to help develop the supply chain and reduce barriers to uptake in the use of recycled materials in road and building projects,” Mrs Hancock said.
Member for Kiama Gareth Ward said he was extremely pleased to see recycled crushed glass being used in the construction of the Albion Park Rail Bypass project.
“It is fantastic to see recycled materials being used which is paving the way for other projects to follow suit and will see more recycled materials being incorporated into major infrastructure projects across the State,” Mr Ward said.

NSW Government investment in Shellharbour Hospital has more than doubled, ensuring a world-class facility on a new site, boosting local jobs and the economy.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the $320 million funding boost is part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan to fast-track infrastructure and create jobs across the state.
“The NSW Government has increased its contribution from $250 million to $570 million to deliver the Illawarra a state-of-the-art hospital on a new site,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This investment is about creating thousands of new jobs and ensuring the South Coast has a world-class hospital with the capacity to care for the health needs of the community now and into the future.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said a total of $700 million will be funnelled into the project from the State and Federal Government.
“Not only will this bigger facility attract world-class clinicians and hospital staff to the region but it will deliver up to 2,800 jobs during construction to boost the local economy,” Mr Perrottet said.
“And by building a brand new hospital on a greenfield site, it provides greater opportunity to design a campus which can accommodate future demand and growth.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new Shellharbour Hospital will relieve pressure on the existing hospital network and offer locals first-class facilities on their doorstep.
“We know in the next decade one in four people in the Illawarra will be aged 65 or older and need better access to care, in addition to its millions of visitors,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Work is already underway to identify a site where health services for all demographics could be collocated in one place and building can commence as soon as possible.”
Member for Kiama Gareth Ward said this investment would change lives in the region.
“When I make a promise to our community, I always get it done. I’ve been fighting hard for southern Illawarra residents to ensure we have a hospital that will serve our region for many years to come,” Mr Ward said.
“As a local MP, I’ve worked hard to deliver infrastructure that changes lives and saves lives – this announcement takes the cake.”
Minister for Local Government and Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said scores of senior Illawarra doctors had petitioned her and fellow MPs for this outcome.
“This investment is a terrific outcome for patients and health professionals because it will concentrate vital services in one spot and bring forward works,” Mrs Hancock said.

A new landmark is taking shape above Central Station, with a feature roof going up as part of the Sydney Metro construction works.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the roof over the Northern Concourse is nearly two thirds complete, after workers installed the steel girders, affectionately known as the “hockey sticks”, and cassette roof sections.
“The 80-metre-long and 40-metre-wide roof extends from the northern end of Platform 8 to Platform 16, and will sit more than 16 metres above ground to enable natural light to filter into the station,” Mr Constance said.
“More than 500 workers are currently delivering the Sydney Metro works at Central, with more than 5,000 working across the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project.”
The roof structure was manufactured and preassembled in the Hunter Valley town of Kurri Kurri, before large sections were transported to Sydney in the middle of the night.
Principal Contractor Laing O’Rourke has worked with architects Woods Bagot and John McAslan + Partners on the bespoke design for the 330 tonne roof.
As part of the upgrade to Australia’s busiest railway station, two new underground Metro platforms are being built as well as the landmark Central Walk – a new underground pedestrian concourse to help customers connect between light rail, suburban and inter-city trains, the Metro and buses.
Excavation work to build the underground Metro platforms “box” has reached 18 metres below ground level and preparations are in place to break into the tunnel in the coming months, as workers head for the final depth of 30 metres.
More information about the roof:

• 58 cassette sections being installed, each weighing around five tonnes.
• Largest cassettes are 16m long and 4.5m wide.
• Eight girders being installed, each weighing 30 tonnes.
• Longest girders are near the Station Master’s Office, measuring 21 metres long.
• 21,000 square metres of existing canopy was demolished for the new roof.
• Roof has perforated aluminium cladding panels, 21 distinctive diamond shape skylights, lighting and speakers.

Sections of the roof will be progressively installed over the Northern Concourse until the end of the year, with the Central Walk expected to be open to customers in 2022.
Sydney Metro construction will continue with metro rail services through the city expected to start in 2024.