Councils across NSW will have the opportunity to deliver new and improved public spaces for their local communities thanks to a $250 million program announced today, as part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said local councils that focus on fast-tracking development assessments for projects that deliver much-needed jobs and housing will be eligible for up to $5.5 million each in funding for parklands, town squares and main streets.
“As part of the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program, councils that push forward with assessments of job-creating projects will be incentivised with funding for more, and better, public spaces,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This program will unlock construction jobs across the State helping combat the economic shocks of COVID-19 while making communities a better place to live.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the program would create a lasting community benefit across the state.
“In NSW, we’ve already fast-tracked the determination of 67 projects since the pandemic began – creating opportunities for 40,000 jobs, 18,000 homes, 400 hectares of open space and $17.7 billion in economic benefit through our Planning System Acceleration Program,” Mr Stokes said.
“Now we’re helping councils to prioritise local planning projects that will boost jobs and investment in their communities with a $250 million incentive to create new and improved public spaces.
“We want councils to think big and bold and deliver legacy projects – new parks, new walking trails, more walkable and inviting streets and open spaces for their communities.”
Mr Stokes added that the program will drive more efficient local development and support the delivery of the Premier’s Priorities to increase the amount of green, open and public space.
“It builds on the success of the Planning System Acceleration Program to bring greater benefits to neighbourhoods and streets by providing councils the funds to create new or improved public space, as well as encouraging more efficient planning processes.”
This new program is only available to the 68 councils currently participating in the e-planning system.
For more information about the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program and to see if your council is eligible visit www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/publicspaceslegacy
SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM READY TO RISE
Construction of the new Sydney Football Stadium site is powering on through the COVID pandemic with contractor John Holland laying the first concrete building slabs at Moore Park today.
Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said development hasn’t stopped during COVID, providing job security for workers, boosting NSW’s COVID-19 recovery and ensuring the project remains on schedule.
“The Sydney Football Stadium project is investing in local companies during the pandemic with a Western Sydney business providing the concrete for today’s pour,” Mr Lee said.
“Over 150 cubic metres of concrete will be poured this week, over an area that will be part of the new stadium’s player and coaching facilities.
“This is another exciting milestone setting the foundations for the stadium to start rising from the ground.”
To complete the stadium, a further 40,000m³ of concrete will be poured which is the equivalent of 16 Olympic swimming pools.
The project will utilise as many local suppliers and subcontractors as possible through to completion.
Over the next two years, the Sydney Football Stadium Redevelopment will create over 800 jobs and inject hundreds of millions into the NSW economy through the procurement of construction materials and labour.
“Our stage two contractor John Holland has already safely logged over 140,000 hours by workers on site since the beginning of the outbreak and there has been an average of 180 workers on site in July alone,” Mr Lee said.
“We have extended hours on weekends to enable work to continue safely with social distancing, no job losses or reduced hours for employees.”
The new Sydney Football Stadium will be a modern, world-class sporting and entertainment precinct to ensure NSW remains the number one choice for the best events. The stadium remains on track to be ready to host the 2022 NRL Grand Final.
MANDATORY HOTEL QUARANTINE FOR RESIDENTS RETURNING FROM VICTORIA
Following updated health advice, NSW residents returning from Victoria must go into mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.
This regime, designed to protect the wider NSW community from the escalating COVID-19 situation in Victoria, will come into effect at 12.01am this Friday.
All returning NSW residents, unless they live within the NSW border regions, will only be allowed to return to NSW through Sydney airport.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this new line of defence would further reduce the risk during this critical time in the pandemic.
“I realise this may be difficult for some people, but the changing situation in Victoria means we must exercise extreme caution,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The health of our citizens and economy must be protected – and the health advice says this is the best way to do it.
“We will also further limit the reasons Victorians can seek exemptions to come into NSW.”
There is no change to existing arrangements for border communities.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said a robust health screening process will continue at the airport to protect the NSW community.
“NSW Health staff will continue to rigorously screen incoming passengers from Victoria, doing health and temperature checks, ensuring masks are worn and checking their permits,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Our staff will also continue to ensure that anyone who is unwell or showing symptoms is shuttled safely to our quarantine health hotels for care under isolation.”
Dr Kerry Chant said this latest change would reduce the number of people entering NSW from Victoria, and reduce the risk of community transmission.
“This is a critical time in the NSW response and we need to reduce any further risk of seeding of cases from Victoria,” Dr Chant said.
The cost of hotel quarantine will be the same as for returning international travellers.
HAVE YOUR SAY ON SYDNEY’S NEWEST PARK
The community is invited to help shape Sydney’s newest park, almost 10 hectares of open space on former inaccessible industrial land to be transformed as part of the Rozelle Interchange project.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said Rozelle residents would have access to this new space, similar in size to Victoria Park near Sydney University, to relax, exercise and enjoy the outdoors once the Rozelle Interchange is completed in 2023.
“It’s exciting to be delivering a new park for the people of Rozelle and neighbouring communities, and this is their chance to have a say about the revitalisation of this prominent location.” Mr Constance said
“Our goal is to create a treasured place for the community to enjoy including new walking, running and cycling tracks that connect to surrounding suburbs.”
A draft Urban Design Landscape Plan will go on public display from August 10 providing insight into how the park could look. Residents will have an opportunity to give feedback on its proposed landscape design, pedestrian and cyclist connections, playground equipment, fitness stations and lighting.
The park will be created on the former Rozelle rail yards, currently a project construction site.
A Technical Working Group will also be established, comprising NSW Government agencies and community members, to consider potential local sporting uses and the community’s needs.
“We want to work with the community and key stakeholders to understand their views on the ongoing use for the parklands such as community sporting facilities and playing surfaces,” Mr Constance said.
The Group will seek expressions of interest for community involvement in the coming weeks.
The Rozelle Interchange, part of the third stage of WestConnex, includes a new underground motorway interchange and underground bypass of Victoria Road between Iron Cove Bridge and Anzac Bridge. It will reduce traffic on Victoria Road by 50 per cent.
The project will create more than 15,000 jobs by the time it opens to traffic in late 2023.
Mr Constance said online community consultation would include two virtual presentations to give an overview of the Urban Design Landscape Plan, ensuring residents can have their say during COVID-19.
“This is a great opportunity to shape this unique project and I urge locals and those with an interest to get involved,” Mr Constance said
The plan can be accessed and commented on via the www.westconnex.com.au website from 9am on 10 August.
Licensed premises issued $5000 fine over public health breach – Dubbo
A licensed premises in Dubbo has been issued a penalty infringement notice (PIN) following a breach of public health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just after 1pm on Sunday (2 August 2020) officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District attended a licensed premises on Talbragar Street, Dubbo, after reports of an altercation.
Following inquiries and after viewing CCTV, police will allege upward of 30 patrons occupied the gaming room of the premises and were standing with no social distancing maintained.
Officers attended the premise about 10am today (Wednesday 5 August 2020) and the venue was issued with a $5000 fine for failing to comply with requirements of a Public Health Order – COVID-19.
The maximum penalty for contravening a Public Health Order is a fine of up to $11,000 and/or six months imprisonment.
The standard penalty is a fine by way of an on-the-spot Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) – $1000 for individuals and $5000 for businesses.
Orana Mid-Western Police District Commander, Superintendent Peter McKenna, said police will continue to work with businesses in relation to their COVID-19 safety plans and provide advice and guidance.
“Whilst it is the responsibility of licensed premises to ensure they’re complying with Public Health Orders, the public have to understand they’re putting those premises at risk and they may also be held liable,” Supt McKenna said.
“They’re putting the livelihoods of these businesses at risk, and if people don’t think it’s going to happen in our area they only have to look at other regions that are being impacted.”
Man charged and woman fined over separate breaches of Public Health Orders
Police have charged a man and issued a licensee with a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) in the past 24 hours following two separate breaches of COVID-19 Public Health Orders.
Officers from Operation Border Closure were conducting permit checks at a checkpoint on the Hume Highway, Albury, when they stopped a vehicle about 9.30pm (Monday 3 August 2020), and spoke with the male driver.
The 49-year-old Nelson Bay man told police he travelled into Victoria on Saturday (1 August 2020), and did not have a current permit to re-enter NSW.
Police conducted various inquiries which revealed that the man had previously re-entered NSW on 19 July with his permit directing he self-isolate at his Nelson Bay home. Further, it was established that he had breached the direction to self-isolate on 23 July, when local police conducted a compliance check and were unable to locate him.
It’s alleged that the man became aggressive and argumentative and, after he was advised he was being arrested, he resisted police and refused to comply with reasonable directions.
After being arrested, the man was taken to Albury Police Station, where he was observed throwing an item into a rubbish bin, which is alleged to be a satchel of cannabis.
He was subsequently charged with two counts of resist officer in execution of duty, not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9-COVID-19 and possess prohibited drug. He’s been refused bail to appear at Albury Local Court today (Tuesday 4 August 2020).
In a separate incident, officers from Lake Illawarra Police District were conducting compliance checks on Friday (31 July 2020), and spoke with the female licensee at a hotel at Kiama about 6pm.
She was unable to produce a completed COVID-Safe plan but showed police blank forms which had been provided by officers during an inspection the previous week. During a subsequent walk-through, police observed patrons standing around and various areas were not appropriately set up to ensure physical distancing – all of which would be addressed in the COVID Safety Plan.
Following further inquiries, the 58-year-old woman was issued a $1000 PIN yesterday (Monday 3 August 2020), before being formally warned to ensure the business complies with COVID restrictions.
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.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Federal Gov Must Support Early Learning In Victoria
The Greens have said that the federal government must urgently support early learning and immediately provide relief for early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Victoria.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens Education spokesperson, said:
“The current situation is untenable. The federal government should immediately extend JobKeeper for all early learning workers and provide free childcare with a guaranteed relief payment for services.
“JobKeeper was taken away from ECEC workers before anyone else, and now the future of hundreds of centres hangs in the balance. We risk a situation in which thousands of early learning workers are stood down without an income.
“Scrapping JobKeeper for these workers, who are mainly women, and reverting to the expensive fee-paying model was a big mistake.
“We need urgent clarity from the Victorian government on who is eligible to continue to access childcare. Families and children in vulnerable situations should not be turned away.
“We must support families and children during these turbulent and uncertain times,” she said.
Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens, said:
“Childcare support was a vital part of the initial Covid response. But now, as things are more restrictive than they’ve ever been for millions of Australians, the government has selectively pulled support for both families and childcare workers.
“Ripping out support for a sector as crucial as childcare will have a ripple-effect that will increase risk and unnecessary hardship.
“Parents shouldn’t be forced to pay fees if their children can’t attend, and centres and staff need to know they’ll be financially supported.
“We have to learn our lessons on the fly with this epidemic. Pulling JobKeeper and free childcare is a mistake that needs to be acknowledged and reversed immediately,” Bandt said.
'I just don’t see why politics needs to be involved': Calls for compensation at Sports Rorts hearing
In testimony today at the Senate Inquiry into the Administration of Sports Grants, affected sports clubs and local governments have called on the Morrison government to fund their deserving projects that missed out because of the Coalition’s pork-barrelling.
Greens Senator Janet Rice has called on the Senate to pass the Greens’ Level Playing Field Bill, empowering Sport Australia to fund the clubs whose applications were recommended under the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program, but were not funded under the Coalitions’ rorts.
Senator Janet Rice, Greens Sports spokesperson said:
“All the affected clubs and local governments told the committee today that the Prime Minister needs to put this right and fund the deserving sports clubs that were robbed because of the government’s pork-barrelling.
“When asked what Federal funding would mean to their club, Mr Nick Cater noted that the North Shore Country Club and Residents Association’s project was “shovel-ready”, and would provide “local jobs for local trades” with work that could “start immediately.” He added that funding “would be transformational” to the community.
“This is exactly what my Level Playing Field Bill calls on the Morrison government to do.
“During the COVID-19 crisis, sports clubs are now in more need of support. Most of the projects are shovel-ready, would use local labour, and have already been assessed as meritorious by Sport Australia. This Bill will benefit these community sports groups by providing much-needed and immediate investment stimulus in the face of the pandemic.
“Many of the clubs put in hundreds of hours of volunteer time to submit applications to a process that was systemically unfair and without integrity. Local governments are expected by their ratepayers to have transparent and fully accountable grants processes, and testimony we heard today showed the disappointment that the federal government does not hold itself to the same standards.
Mr Andrew Campbell of the Shire of Manjimup said that the government’s bias towards marginal electorates “did not pass the pub test. There was something just not right about it.”
“If Morrison is serious about boosting local economies in this fraught time, funding these sports projects would help to do just that. It would also go some of the way towards making up for the hundreds of wasted hours and the emotional whammy experienced by club members and local governments who were left in the lurch.”
Racing Cruelty Continues In Lockdown
Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to the announcement that greyhound and horse racing will continue under Stage 4 lockdown in Victoria.
Senator Faruqi said:
“It beggars belief that greyhound and horse racing are continuing during Stage 4 lockdown in Victoria. This is totally absurd and galling.
“The powerful influence of the gambling-fuelled greyhound and horse racing industries has been laid bare. These industries are fundamentally incompatible with animal welfare.
“It’s still cruelty if no one’s watching.”
Paid pandemic ‘leave’ not enough & won’t properly support health effort
Scott Morrison’s pandemic payment announcement is a poor substitute for sick leave and doesn’t properly support the public health push to contain the coronavirus, said Greens Leader, Adam Bandt.
“Workers can only get this watered-down payment if they’ve been ordered to stay at home, so it won’t cover people who are experiencing symptoms but haven’t yet visited a doctor,” said Mr Bandt.
“The unwillingness to provide a simple across-the-board pandemic leave entitlement at a worker’s normal rate of pay is pointless penny pinching and it doesn’t give us the best chance to beat this virus.”
“People without leave entitlements who are feeling even the slightest bit sick should be encouraged to stay at home and not come to work. They shouldn’t have to wait for an instruction from a health official to get financial support.”
“Also, because this isn’t a true leave entitlement applying across the country, workers without sick leave outside of Victoria will still face the financial pressure of coming in to work while sick or awaiting test results.”
“We shouldn’t be waiting for a state of disaster until we tell people they can stay home when they’re sick.”
“Pandemic leave should also be about outbreak prevention. Waiting until there is a state of disaster before having access risks fueling the spread until an official announcement.
“We’ve seen unions, community groups and health experts join the calls for this vital measure for months. This is a belated and over-complicated response to those calls.
“The decades-long, intentional erosion of worker’s rights like sick leave, must be reversed. It has driven inequality and in the context of Covid is a threat to public safety. The various caveats in this scheme have an ideological flavor that should have no place in a pandemic response,” Bandt said.
The Greens announced legislation for national paid pandemic leave in March and today produced advice that there was no barrier for the Treasurer to bring in paid pandemic leave without legislation or appropriations bill,” Bandt said
“Workers can only get this watered-down payment if they’ve been ordered to stay at home, so it won’t cover people who are experiencing symptoms but haven’t yet visited a doctor,” said Mr Bandt.
“The unwillingness to provide a simple across-the-board pandemic leave entitlement at a worker’s normal rate of pay is pointless penny pinching and it doesn’t give us the best chance to beat this virus.”
“People without leave entitlements who are feeling even the slightest bit sick should be encouraged to stay at home and not come to work. They shouldn’t have to wait for an instruction from a health official to get financial support.”
“Also, because this isn’t a true leave entitlement applying across the country, workers without sick leave outside of Victoria will still face the financial pressure of coming in to work while sick or awaiting test results.”
“We shouldn’t be waiting for a state of disaster until we tell people they can stay home when they’re sick.”
“Pandemic leave should also be about outbreak prevention. Waiting until there is a state of disaster before having access risks fueling the spread until an official announcement.
“We’ve seen unions, community groups and health experts join the calls for this vital measure for months. This is a belated and over-complicated response to those calls.
“The decades-long, intentional erosion of worker’s rights like sick leave, must be reversed. It has driven inequality and in the context of Covid is a threat to public safety. The various caveats in this scheme have an ideological flavor that should have no place in a pandemic response,” Bandt said.
The Greens announced legislation for national paid pandemic leave in March and today produced advice that there was no barrier for the Treasurer to bring in paid pandemic leave without legislation or appropriations bill,” Bandt said