16 News

Central Sydney will get a new Ambulance Superstation as part of the NSW Government’s record $184 million infrastructure investment in stations across Sydney.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian today unveiled the plans for the Central Sydney Ambulance Station, announcing the state-of-the-art building will be at the site of the former Coroners Court of NSW at Glebe.
“For the first time in more than 15 years, Sydney is benefiting from modern, purpose-built ambulance stations, with nine already completed as part of the Sydney Ambulance Metropolitan Infrastructure Strategy program,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Continuing our record investment in health infrastructure is a central component of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new Central Superstation is another step forward in the transformation of Sydney’s ambulance service.
“This will be a Superstation home base like no other and will enable paramedics to improve response times and continue providing high-quality care to the community.” Mr Hazzard said.
Commissioner of NSW Ambulance, Dr Dominic Morgan ASM said it is the final of 11 ambulance stations to be built as part of the paramedic response network.
“Our paramedics do a fantastic job servicing their local communities from state-of-the-art infrastructure and I expect the new central Sydney station to continue our distinguished tradition of excellence in care for local communities,” Dr Morgan said.
Nine new ambulance superstations have already been built and construction of a new superstation at Randwick and a new ambulance station at Mona Vale are underway.
The $184 million investment in metropolitan ambulance infrastructure is part of more than $10 billion invested in health capital works by the NSW Government since 2011, with a further $10.1 billion committed in this term of government.
The NSW Government has invested more than $1 billion in NSW Ambulance during 2019-20, including $27.1 million to employ 221 paramedics and call centre staff from a total 750 over this term.

Westmead Health and Innovation District took a major step forward today with the launch of a new project delivering over 1,000 jobs and 28,000 square metres of health, research, education and commercial space.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the $350 million development, a joint venture between Western Sydney University and Charter Hall to be known as Innovation Quarter or iQ, would house leading some of the University’s leading research institutes and Australia’s national science agency CSIRO.
“Commencement of ground works for this new complex will help strengthen Westmead Health and Innovation District as a leading global centre for health care, medical research and commercialisation, education and training,” Mr Ayres said.
“It’s another sign of confidence in the NSW economy and demonstrates more progress out west in the Central City, supporting the NSW Government’s focus on technology and innovation as key drivers of growth.”
Western Sydney University will base its MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, NICM Health Research Institute and Translational Health Research Institute (THRI) at the complex when it opens in 2021.
CSIRO will bring world-leading research staff from its e-Health and Nutrition & Health programs.
Western Sydney University Vice-President (Finance and Resources), Peter Pickering, said the Innovation Quarter at Westmead is part of the University’s ‘Western Growth’ strategy – an ambitious program that is reshaping the University’s campus network and co-creating cities and transformative educational infrastructure across western Sydney, in partnership with industry and government.
Mr Pickering said it will build upon the University’s existing footprint in Westmead to integrate first-class health and medical research into policy and practice.
“The University’s presence within the Innovation Quarter will enable researchers, industry partners and clinicians to come together and address the nation’s most pressing health challenges.
“During these challenging times, the Innovation Quarter will also make important economic contributions to the region, creating over 1,000 jobs and generating $150 million to the regional economy.”
Charter Hall Group CEO and Managing Director David Harrison said there had never been a more important time to focus on health research and innovation.
“Our project collaboration with Western Sydney University will deliver a state-of-the-art innovation centre to support the work of both the Western Sydney University and CSIRO’s medical research facilities.”
“iQ will create a truly visionary precinct that brings together the most forward-thinking research, health education and commercial sectors in the Southern Hemisphere. The project will provide an environment for some of the brightest minds in the country to innovate, create opportunities for collaboration and solve global challenges in the heart of Westmead,” Mr Harrison said.
Dr Dave Williams CSIRO Executive Director said the move to Westmead would improve collaboration opportunities to create innovative health and wellbeing solutions for the nation.
“CSIRO has a long history of partnering with health, education and research organisations to help solve Australia’s greatest challenges in health,” Dr Williams said.
“We look forward to building on this and embarking on new partnerships and innovations at Westmead.”
Images of the development can be downloaded here.

The first of 17 brand new Waratah Series 2 trains is entering service this week, three months ahead of schedule, thanks to the NSW Government’s $4.3 billion More Trains More Services program.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said the new trains will support increasing patronage across the network, and will be more comfortable and reliable for customers.
“We have seen rapid growth in the number of train journeys over the past few years, which is why it is so important that we invest in new trains and new infrastructure right across our rail network,” Mr Constance said.
“It is exciting to see this train on the tracks three months ahead of schedule, after it was one of 17 fast tracked for delivery at the start of 2019.
“The remainder of the trains will be delivered by the end of this year and will be rolled out progressively after testing. When they are all on the tracks our customers will have 41 brand new Waratah Series 2 trains to enjoy.”
Sydney Trains Acting Chief Executive Suzanne Holden says the new Waratah Series 2 trains will operate on the T2 Inner West & Leppington, T3 Bankstown and T8 Airport & South lines.
“They’ll feature air conditioning with advanced temperature control, high definition customer information screens, internal and external CCTV, as well as priority seating, wheelchair spaces and hearing aid loops,” Ms Holden said.
Over the next 10 years, the More Trains More Services program will roll out world-class technology to transform the rail network and provide customers with reliable, high capacity turn up and go services.
The next stages of the program will focus on delivering improvements to the T4 Illawarra, T8 Airport and the South Coast lines.
For more information, visit: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/sydney-growth-trains

New South Wales and Australia have fared better than many developed economies following the worst months of COVID-19, with the ABS today releasing the June quarter national accounts.
Data shows that Australia’s Gross Domestic Product contracted by 7.0 per cent in the June quarter, while NSW saw its State Final Demand decline by 8.6 per cent.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the results were consistent with NSW being the first, and initially hardest hit by COVID-19.
“The June quarter captures the worst months of the pandemic for NSW, with a number of public health orders coming into effect throughout March,” Mr Perrottet said.
“About two-thirds of NSW’s population lives in Greater Sydney and metropolitan areas, which means when restrictions were in place there was a significant reduction in citizen mobility which would have contributed to the 13.3 per cent decrease in household consumption.
“Thanks to our allocation of almost $16 billion in targeted health and economic stimulus measures, consistent management of new COVID-19 clusters staving off a second wave, and many of the state’s restrictions being gradually eased throughout May and June, we expect to see a significant bounce back in the September quarter.”
Mr Perrottet said the Government had now turned its attention to its Recovery Plan, recently announcing a guaranteed $100 billion infrastructure pipeline over four years.
“Not since the Great Depression has Australia or the world faced such uncertain economic times, but we will do whatever it takes to see NSW come back stronger than ever,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We can see from today’s release that dwelling investment, such as the building of new homes and renovation of existing homes, dropped by 7.6 per cent, which reaffirms our commitment to investing in job creating infrastructure projects.
“We will continue to power ahead and drive investment which is being powered by our $3 billion Infrastructure and Jobs Acceleration Fund.
“This fund will be used for job-creating projects touching every corner of the state, supporting up to an extra 20,000 jobs in NSW.”
Since restrictions eased in NSW, employment has started to rise with more than half of the 269,000 people in NSW who lost their job between March and May finding employment.
In July alone, NSW’s employment rose by almost 57,000 of which about 65 per cent were women. This was made up of 23,300 full-time jobs and 33,600 part-time jobs.
The NSW 2020 Budget is set for 17 November 2020.