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The Minns Labor Government has achieved a major milestone in its remediation of the former Waratah Gasworks in Newcastle, with construction on new homes to commence this week.

Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) has completed remediation of 11 residential lots which were contaminated with soil and infrastructure left behind by the former gasworks operation.

The remediation project takes in a total of 13 properties on Ellis and Turton Roads. Seven properties are being rebuilt, while four others will be sold on the private market.

The remediation work completed involved the excavation and removal of contaminated soil and gasworks infrastructure buried at the site of the former gasworks, which operated from 1889 to 1926.

The works are part of a $25 million project that has so far removed more than 20,000 tonnes of gasworks impacted material.

Work included excavation and removal of a 56-metre-wide underground gasholder which extended to a depth of 6 metres below the ground, along with tar wells, and purifier beds.

Contamination at the site was first detected in 2016 during investigations conducted by the City of Newcastle and then reported to the NSW EPA.

For more information, visit https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/our-business/environmental-management-group/waratah-gasworks-site-remediation.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“It is fantastic this land is being returned for residential use, and we’ll be able to maintain the character of the area for the benefit of the community.

“There were many sites across the state that were unfortunately impacted by historic industrial use when environmental protections were not as strong as they are today.

“The Minns Labor government is taking proactive steps to tackle environmental challenges, like the  Waratah Gasworks site, to safeguard community health and ensure impacted land can be safely re-used into the future.”

Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said:

“The legacy of the former Waratah Gasworks has been a real and lived experience for many residents, so this is a significant moment for families who call this area home.

“There is still work to do before the site is fully remediated, but this is an important milestone in ensuring the issues of the past are finally put to bed.”

Property and Development NSW Executive Director – Environmental Management Group Peter Graham said:

“Property and Development NSW began its civil works at Waratah in late 2023 and our handover of the first property to one of the residents at Ellis Road is an important milestone in our ongoing work to remediate the land where the former Waratah Gasworks once stood.

“I am extremely grateful to the residents for their patience and engaging with us throughout the process. This is a complex and challenging project, and the work continues to ensure all 13 properties will be suitable for future residential use.”

Ellis Road resident Tony Curk said:

“I am grateful to the team at Property and Development NSW for their ongoing engagement and willingness to work with us to finally get to this point.

“I now have a clean property and I’m looking forward to getting started on rebuilding and putting this behind us.”

The Minns Labor Government is full steam ahead on delivering high-quality jobs and building a skilled workforce in Western Sydney, with a quarter of the state’s XPT power cars now upgraded through one of NSW’s most significant rail maintenance projects.

And it’s not just the workers who are benefiting – passengers across regional NSW are getting a sneak peek at the future of regional rail, with refurbished XPT cars to make journeys more reliable, comfortable, and enjoyable.

The $40.3 million fast-tracked XPT Life Extension Project is delivering for both the economy and commuters – supporting 40 full-time rail maintenance jobs, training 16 apprentices, and giving the iconic XPT fleet a much-needed makeover.

The work is taking place at the newly upgraded Auburn Heavy Maintenance Centre and is part of Labor’s commitment to putting Western Sydney manufacturing and regional connectivity back on track.

This transformation is more than just mechanical. It’s a comprehensive refresh of the fleet inside and out, aimed at improving passenger experience while upskilling a new generation of rail workers.

Better Trains, Better Travel

From more comfortable seats and new carpets to clearer windows and fresh paint, the upgrades are making a noticeable difference for the thousands of people who rely on XPT services every week.

The mechanical overhaul is improving reliability, while aesthetic and comfort-focused upgrades are ensuring that long-distance regional travel is more pleasant, accessible, and modern.

The first financial year of the program wrapped on 30 June 2025 with 25% of power cars completed right on schedule. Thanks to smart facility upgrades and concurrent work methods, the program is now on track to complete around 50% of power cars by the end of the year.

One key efficiency gain has come from the upgraded spray booth, which now includes two heating systems, cutting painting time from four weeks to just two per power car.

Over the life of the five-year program, the XPT overhaul will include:

• 2,750 square metres of carpet laid
• 590 windows replaced
• 4,000 litres of paint used
• 2,600 seats refurbished
• 275,000 hours worked

So far, in just the first year:

• Over 250 square metres of carpet and 50 square metres of vinyl laid
• More than 50 windows replaced
• Over 250 seats upgraded for comfort
• 500 litres of paint applied

Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Minns Labor Government’s fast-tracking of this $40.3 million project is keeping regional NSW on track on multiple fronts – better, more reliable transport services and high-quality jobs chugging along in Western Sydney.

“This is about more than maintenance, it’s about giving passengers the comfort, reliability and quality they deserve, while building the skilled rail workforce we need for the future.

“This project shows Labor’s commitment to regional connectivity isn’t just hot air, we’re ensuring communities across NSW stay connected while we build the skilled workforce needed to keep our rail industry on the right track.”

Minister for Skills Steve Whan said:

“Skills are the engine driving this project, with 16 apprentices gaining invaluable experience in advanced rail engineering and manufacturing techniques they wouldn’t get anywhere else.

“They’re developing advanced capabilities, creating in-house solutions, and building a strong foundation for the next chapter of NSW’s rail manufacturing future.

“This Labor Government isn’t just maintaining trains, it’s training the next generation of skilled rail workers who will drive innovation across NSW.”

In a major step towards greener construction, the Minns Labor Government has greenlit a new $81.4 million bioenergy facility in Horsley Park that will power one of the country’s largest brick manufacturing plants.

Austral Bricks have been manufacturing in Horsley Park since the 1960’s and this approval will allow the facilities to transition their operations from fossil fuels to renewable biogas.

The facility will divert up to 150,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year, converting the waste into renewable green gas using anaerobic digestion technology.

The plant will place organic waste into a sealed tank, allowing bacteria to break it down and release biogas.

This green gas will generate electricity and heat to power the bioenergy facility and be piped to the brick manufacturing kiln to replace the natural gas currently being used as a fuel. 

The $81.4 million development is expected to support more than 250 jobs during construction.

Once complete, the development will process solid and liquid organic waste collected from commercial, industrial, agricultural and residential areas.

Improving the sustainability of core building materials like bricks is crucial to achieving NSW’s climate goals especially as we accelerate the delivery of homes right across the state.

This approval will mean bricks made from this renewable energy will be used in the construction of thousands of new homes being delivered in metropolitan Sydney and beyond.

Austral Bricks are partnering with renewable energy company Delorean Corporation, to construct and operate the bioenergy facility.

When assessing the proposal, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure carefully considered issues such as traffic, site access, noise, air quality and biodiversity concerns.

For more information see project website.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The Minns Labor Government is backing local businesses as they move to low-emissions production. Austral Bricks’ adoption of bioenergy demonstrates how industry can play a vital role in achieving the State’s climate goals.

“The bioenergy facility is diverting waste that would otherwise been deposited in landfills and repurposing it to reduce our overall carbon footprint.

“Bioenergy is emerging as a key player in the global energy transition. It offers reliable, renewable alternatives to fossil fuels, while supporting the circular economy.”

“As NSW tackles it’s housing challenges, this renewable energy facility will use green energy to make the millions of bricks required to build the new homes that NSW desperately needs.”

Member for Prospect Dr Hugh McDermott said:

“Austral Bricks have a long history in this region and this new bioenergy facility is another investment in that ongoing legacy.

“This is a great example of industry moving with the times to improve environmental outcomes while also securing the sites manufacturing future. “

The NSW Government is releasing more flood-affected homes for sale across the Northern Rivers after a very strong community response to the first two home relocation auctions.

There will be a rolling release of homes available for auction and relocation, with 45 flood-affected properties in the Northern Rivers sold already.

This next release by the NSW Reconstruction Authority will include nine buyback homes from Burringbar and South Murwillumbah going to auction on 12 August 2025.

All homes earmarked for relocation have been purchased by the RA through the buyback stream of the $880 million Resilient Homes Program, jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.

As Australia’s largest climate adaptation initiative, the program is helping create safer communities by removing flood-prone homes from the floodplain.

Most of the buyers have been locals, paying between $347 and $101,000 for the houses so far.

There is no reserve price on these houses, meaning bidding can start and end at $1, making it one of the most accessible housing opportunities in Australia. Successful bidders will have 12 months to relocate the houses to flood-free land.

The RA remains firmly committed to reusing and relocating as many flood-affected homes as possible.

More details on the homes available can be found at www.fnmurwillumbah.com.au/pages/real-estate/relocatable-homes

Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said:

“By auctioning these houses, we are helping save historic homes impacted by the floods and making a small but meaningful contribution to the housing challenges we face in the Northern Rivers.”

“This innovative program is a creative way of keeping these houses in the community.”

Frontlines responders working between New South Wales and Victoria will soon be able to access improved radio communications to help better protect local communities.

Emergency services agencies are working to improve communications when responding to natural disasters across borders, with a new radio communications trial announced at the National Emergency Ministers Meeting in Darwin.

The trial is testing first responders’ ability to seamlessly switch between state radio networks, allowing teams to coordinate responses during emergencies, even when crossing borders.

This will enable them to operate on the same radio network and prevent them having to carry two radios to improve emergency response efforts.

Under the trial emergency service crews’ radios will automatically connect to the local network, enabling first responders to stay in touch without changing devices or settings.

This is important during large-scale emergencies like bushfires, floods, or storms, where teams from multiple agencies and states often work together.

The trial builds on the success of Australia’s first interstate radio roaming services, launched by NSW and Queensland in 2023.

This service was critical during the response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred earlier this year when Queensland’s radio infrastructure was inaccessible, and emergency teams were able to switch seamlessly to the NSW network and continue operations without disruption.

The trial is expected to begin later in the year and will be led by the NSW Telco Authority and Emergency Management Victoria.

In NSW, the Public Safety Network is used by emergency services and government agencies to coordinate responses and is the state’s most important communications network after Triple Zero.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“State borders shouldn’t be a barrier to public safety. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to ensuring first responders have the tools to keep communities safe and connected.

“As technology improves, we need to look at new ways to harness it to improve our emergency response. This is yet another example of how we’re improving communications to assist in a crisis.

“Through enabling seamless roaming and stronger network interoperability we’re ensuring emergency responders can communicate clearly and stay connected when it matters most.”

Victoria’s Minister for Emergency Services and Natural Disaster Recovery Vicki Ward said:

“Our emergency service teams do an incredible job, and it’s important they have the technology required to respond to emergencies regardless of where they occur.

“We’re working alongside state government colleagues across borders, removing communication barriers and saving valuable time during emergencies.”

Acting NSW Opposition Leader Damien Tudehope said only a Liberals and Nationals Government will ease the burden of Labor’s higher taxes and charges on new housing that have led to NSW performing worse than every other mainland state.
 
“The numbers today only reinforce this devastating reality for prospective home buyers who will be left dreaming of getting on the property ladder. In the last 9 months, 23,500 hopeful NSW residents have had their dreams of home ownership smashed by the inability of Chris Minns and Labor to make it more viable to build new homes.”
 
“Chris Minns and Labor must finally face up to reality: NSW can’t tax our way to more housing. Affordability starts with supply, and supply starts with a government that gets out of the way—not one that stacks on more costs,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
“In the Budget Reply, the Coalition announced we would make home construction more viable by pausing Labor’s $12,000 tax on every new for the life of the National Housing Accord and afterwards defer collection of the Housing and Productivity Contribution from the construction certificate stage to the occupation certificate stage to improve cash flow.
 
“More people are being left to compete over fewer new homes under Labor. The recent NSW Budget admits that under Chris Minns and Labor, NSW has seen more net household formations than net housing completions. No wonder the housing crisis is getting worse.
 
“Labor has made the housing crisis worse by failing to deliver the homes to cater for our growing population, by making new homes more expensive with higher taxes and construction less viable and by failing to provide the essential infrastructure the sector needs to actually get on with the job of delivering more homes,” Mr Tudehope said.