An app that allows everyday people to help local businesses struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic has been launched today.
‘Lean In Newy’ connects organisations that need support, with people wanting to help, while providing added encouragement through $50,000 in vouchers and discounts redeemable at local businesses.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Novocastrians have been brimming with community spirit in response to COVID-19 and Lean In Newy would direct people’s desire to help where it’s most needed.
“COVID-19 has had an unprecedented effect on our community, with older people experiencing increased isolation and businesses suffering a downturn in trade, while other people have found themselves suddenly with more time on their hands,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We have been hearing from many people in the community wanting to help but not knowing how. Lean In Newy is the answer to those asking, ‘How can I help?’.
“Charitable organisations like OzHarvest, Dog Rescue Newcastle and Take 3 For The Sea have registered with Lean In Newy to put out a call for volunteering opportunities, and those who put their hand up will be rewarded with incentives like a free coffee at a local café.
“There are already 23 businesses and 11 not-for-profits signed up, with more in talks, and City of Newcastle is funding the discounts or incentives offered through businesses during the COVID-19 recovery phase.
“Lean In Newy is a fantastic way for us to play our part in helping local businesses and community organisations get back on their feet.”
Family Support Newcastle is one of those community organisations. CEO Sue Hellier said the organisation’s role in promoting the wellbeing of children and their families, individuals and communities was more vital than ever in light of recent hardship caused by COVID-19.
“Many of our activity groups and face-to-face support services have been impacted by COVID-19, but our mission remains the same. There are still ways the community can assist, like purchasing items and assembling kids’ activity or sanitisation packs at home and dropping them off at our Waratah centre,” Ms Hellier said.
“Lean In Newy will be a great help for organisations like us that need more support during this challenging time, and we’re very thankful to City of Newcastle for developing this initiative.”
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(L-R): Family Support Newcastle CEO Sue Hellier, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Zebra Finch owner Kate McNally assemble kids’ activity packs.
Likewise, local business owner Kate McNally, who operates Zebra Finch at Marketown and Kotara, said she was grateful for the helping hand to encourage customers back to the stores.
“As a small business, we have felt the impacts of COVID-19 closures and social distancing measures quite profoundly, with a significant downturn in trade,” Mrs McNally said.
“It’s a relief to have the City’s support to help get back on track.”
Download Lean In Newy from the App Store or Google Play or visit leaninnewy.com.au.
Author: admin
Creatures of Blackbutt Reserve welcome back visitors
Blackbutt Reserve’s animal exhibit boardwalk will reopen to the public today.
Animal encounters, wildlife exhibits and shows remain on hold under the current social distancing and public gathering restrictions, while the kiosk also remains closed.
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“Blackbutt Reserve is one of our City’s most popular attractions and we’re pleased people can once again enjoy the boardwalk and see some of the 60 species of animals that live there,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Safety is our priority and when you visit Blackbutt Reserve, you can expect social distancing measures in place to protect visitors and our staff.
“Novocastrians have done a fantastic job of limiting the spread of COVID-19, and as we reopen facilities to the public, we encourage everyone to keep up the good work including practising good hygiene and staying home if you’re unwell.”
During the Reserve’s closure, Blackbutt’s koalas became social media stars with a 360-degree live stream of feeding time, allowing young and old to join them daily for lunch.
“Over seven days, the stream of feeding time with koalas attracted 30,000 views on Facebook proving just how popular and loved our animals are.”
Adding to the experience at Blackbutt Reserve, playgrounds, walking trails, open spaces, shelters and barbecues are open.
READY, SET, GO – GYMS AND KIDS SPORT RETURNS
Gymnasiums, yoga, indoor pools and dance studios can reopen within a fortnight and kids’ sport can resume across NSW from 1 July, as more COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro has thanked the community for its patience while the Government works through its COVID-19 recovery plan that is built around health advice.
“I’m proud of this State for following the health advice and flattening the curve to such a point, where we can now re-introduce kids’ sports and open gyms,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Sport and exercise boosts morale and this is exactly what NSW needs right now.”
From 13 June, the following will be allowed:
- Fitness, gymnasiums, pilates, yoga and dance studios can reopen with up to 10 people per class and 100 people in an indoor venue;
- Community centres, including their recreational facilities can reopen;
- Some indoor recreational facilities including pools and saunas can also reopen with restricted numbers;
- Tattoo and massage parlours can reopen with up to 10 clients
The four square metre rule must be applied at all times.
Community sport competitions can restart for those aged 18 years and under from 1 July.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said COVID-19 safety plans for each activity or sport are critical to enable this re-start.
“Sport and businesses will need to do things a little differently than in pre-COVID-19 times and following their safety plan is key to keeping people safe,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Re-opening kids’ sporting competitions on 1 July gives groups and local government which manages many of these facilities, time to work through all the new changes.”
Acting Minister for Sport, Geoff Lee said indoor and outdoor community sports for those aged 18 years and under are ready to return from 1 July.
“Children and young people will be thrilled they can get together with friends and teammates again and I am sure parents will welcome the news too,” Mr Lee said.
“NSW loves sport, and I am so pleased clubs and organisations will now be able to plan their fixtures list for their seasons to resume.”
A decision on a potential return date for adult community sport will be made at a later stage.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES BOOSTED
More than 3,300 extra services will be added to the public transport network across Sydney to temporarily increase capacity for physical distancing and provide more options for customers.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said extra weekly services will be added to the network from today to help customers continue to make smart travel choices and practice physical distancing on all modes.
“Transport for NSW is being more proactive and adaptable to provide customers with more information and options throughout the day to help flatten the peak travel curve,” Mr Constance said.
“Looking at the data, it is clear the majority of people have listened and made smart travel choices so far and we thank them for this. However, there has been a slight increase in peak hour travel in the past two weeks and we don’t want to see that continuing.
“Transport for NSW is adding more than 3,300 extra weekly services to buses and trains to temporarily provide more capacity on the network.
“We have already added almost 800 extra weekly services across STA buses and light rail in the last month.
“This next step in the COVIDSafe Transport Plan will see 100,000 extra spaces across the network each week to support people returning to jobs and kids getting back to school.”
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said the majority of extra services have been designed to increase capacity outside the traditional peak where they are needed most.
“Based on current physical distancing requirements, these extra services will help provide more than 59,000 extra spaces on trains and more than 37,000 extra spaces on buses across each week,” Mr Collins said.
“Tradies, health care workers, shift workers and school kids need to travel at specific times of the day which is why we have targeted some of these extra services for them.
“Our strong advice remains that if you are not already using public transport during the peak times, please do not start now.”
Mr Constance said the new extra services will give people even more options to travel outside the peak.
“Please also look to drive, walk or cycle whenever you can and continue to working flexibly if possible.”
“Our Marshalling Response and Support Teams are helping customers move safely across the network. Increased cleaning is also continuing across all modes, with buses and trains now being cleaned up four times a day.”
“Our customers have done a great job so far but we need them to keep working with us in the coming weeks and months as we get through this together.”
Breakdown of the extra temporary services:
- Buses: more than 3100 weekly services
- Sydney Trains: more than 250 weekly services
Man charged with commercial drug supply – Maitland
A man will face court today, charged after a commercial quantity of anabolic steroids was allegedly seized at a Maitland home yesterday.
Last month, officers from the Port Stephens-Hunter Drug Unit commenced an investigation into the supply of anabolic steroids in the Maitland area.
Following extensive inquires, investigators executed a warrant at a home on Lapwing Street, in the Maitland suburb of Aberglasslyn, yesterday (Monday 1 June 2020).
During a search of the home, officers allegedly located and seized 233 vials, containing 2.3 litres of anabolic steroids, along with 5.2 litres of liquid believed to be anabolic steroids, glassware and chemicals.
These items will be forensically examined.
A 31-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Maitland Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited drug – commercial quantity.
The man has been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 2 June 2020).
Man charged following two pursuits in the Hunter
A man has been charged following two pursuits through several Hunter suburbs overnight.
Shortly before 11pm yesterday (Monday 1 June 2020), officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attempted to stop a blue Holden Cruze for the purpose of a random breath test on Trafalgar Street, Nelson Bay.
When the vehicle failed to stop, police commenced patrolling for the vehicle, eventually locating it in Fingal Bay.
Police attempted to stop the Holden a second time on Rocky Point Road, Fingal Bay, before the vehicle allegedly drove off at speed.
Police initiated a pursuit which continued through several suburbs including Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay, Corlette, Salamander Bay and Anna Bay, allegedly reaching speeds in excess of 150 km/hr in a sign-posted 50km/hr zone.
Officers lost sight of the vehicle and terminated the pursuit.
Further police were deployed when they located the vehicle on Marsh Road, Salt Ash, and initiated a second pursuit.
Road spikes were successfully deployed on Nelson Bay Road, Salt Ash, with police continuing to pursue the Holden along Richardson and Medowie Roads, before the vehicle stopped on the Pacific Highway north of Six Mile Road.
A man and a woman both exited the Holden and fled into nearby bushland.
A short foot pursuit ensued with the assistance of the Dog Unit before police arrested a 31-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman.
Police will further allege they located methylamphetamine during a person search of the man.
Both were taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where the 31-year-old man was charged with six offences, including police pursuit, supply prohibited drug, drive whilst disqualified and breach of bail.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 2 March 2020), where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Monday 15 June 2020.
The 29-year-old woman was released due to medical reasons and inquiries are continuing.
Netball NSW Statement re Community Sport return
Netball NSW is disappointed by the announcement from NSW Sports Minister Geoff Lee today regarding the return of community sport as Covid19 restrictions continue to be eased across the state.
Since the Covid19 Pandemic began our netball community at all levels has played a huge role in the collective national effort to put those most in need first, but today’s announcement goes no-where near far enough to ensure community sport itself does not fall victim to the national emergency.
Community sport includes the whole community. Not just those under 18 years of age. Senior players are the backbone of clubs, associations and competitions everywhere. They are the coaches, managers, umpires and administrators. If they can’t participate, all sport – not just netball – is in jeopardy.
Netball NSW has been proactive in working with stakeholders, including our valued clubs and associations, to ensure safe and innovative approaches are taken to competitions in 2020. The organisation has also offered to make itself available to meet with the Health Minister and Chief Medical Officer but is yet to receive a response.
It is unfathomable that as shopping centres start to look like it’s Christmas Eve, and pubs can allow up to 50 people, adults can’t participate in sport.
Netball is not alone in this battle. There are many sporting organisations on the brink of insolvency who may now have to refund every dollar to senior players. It is a financial disaster for community sport.
All sports need financial recovery assistance urgently. The State Government requested, and received, detailed financial information eight weeks ago, but no progress has been made.
It is very important to note that Netball NSW is not in the business of profit to pay huge wages of a tiny minority of elite athletes at the pointy end. Our elite and community games share a deep bond, as last week’s letter to the Premier highlighted.
As a non-profit organisation for over nine decades, every cent is counted and spent to ensure a better outcome for netball as a whole. Thanks to that the game has provided a safe outlet to promote well being and team work.
Without senior players and officials, the whole netball ecosystem cannot function. What we need most of all is a return date for these key partners in our game.
We urge Minister Lee to address this matter immediately. Failure to do so will be detrimental to everyday sport participants across the state.
ABS data demands more for women from Government
Today’s ABS Household data survey provides further confirmation that the impacts of COVID crisis are falling disproportionately to women. The Greens are calling on the National Cabinet to ensure that addressing these disparities is at the forefront of any recovery plans.
The ABS results reveal that women are almost three times as likely as men to have looked after their children full-time on their own during the crisis.
The ABS results also confirm reliance on unpaid care work, with one in eight adults taking on additional caring responsibilities for a vulnerable person outside their household because of Covid-19.
Greens Senate Leader and Spokesperson on Women, Senator Larissa Waters, said:
“The health and economic crisis highlights the unequal burden of unpaid care work that has long been carried by women. As we plan our recovery, we must look at better ways to acknowledge the value of care work and give families more options to fairly distribute caring responsibilities.
“Universal free childcare and more flexible workplace arrangements are an essential part of that.”
“The government must invest in recovery in ways that address gender inequality”
Read the ABS’ Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey here:
https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4940.0
Govt-stacked inquiry set for self-congratulations not action on Domestic Violence
The Greens have criticised the Morrison Government’s plans for a stacked inquiry into domestic and family violence, saying more funding is needed for frontline services, not another inquiry which is designed to endorse the government’s inadequate response to the national crisis.
Greens Senate Leader and Spokesperson on Women, Senator Larissa Waters, said:
“Setting up another inquiry is pretty insulting when this Government continues to ignore the findings of previous domestic violence inquiries, and two weeks ago colluded with Labor to shut down a Senate DV inquiry months early with no hearings or recommendations.
“Countless inquiries into DV have been held and the Morrison government keeps ignoring the recommendations.
“With 23 women killed by violence in Australia so far this year, it’s time the government took action and properly funded frontline services so no survivor is turned away.”
“Sending this urgent issue to another inquiry, to a Committee which is government-dominated and excludes the Senate, shows the Government is desperate to sing its own praises because nobody else is.
“The Government has allocated just $150 million from the $1.1 billion package to addressing domestic and family violence – that is pittance when violence is at epidemic levels.
“This Government should not expect praise for promising miniscule funding increases that do not meet increased service demand and withholding the billions needed for effectively tackling domestic and family violence.
“The proposed terms of reference also ignore the difficulties many women experience in accessing the justice system. The Government must examine the legal impediments to safety, including the inadequacy of funding to the legal assistance sector which is making the situation worse for women suffering violence.
“Despite concerns regarding this latest inquiry, the Greens welcomed news that the Women’s Safety Council will continue under the National Cabinet, and called on the government to prioritise coordination and resources to respond to the national crisis of violence against women. “
New Agreement Keeps Sydney Metro (Western Sydney Airport) Jobmaker Project On-Track
Construction will start this year on the around $11 billion Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport rail, locking in thousands of jobs and providing a long-term economic boost to the Western Sydney and New South Wales economies during the COVID-19 recovery.
Under a new agreement between the Morrison and Berejiklian governments, a further $3.5 billion will be injected into the project, which will service the greater Western Sydney region, in time for the opening of Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport in 2026.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the investment was a further demonstration of the Coalition’s commitment to transforming Western Sydney into an economic and jobs powerhouse.
“It also demonstrates our partnership approach to creating jobs with the New South Wales Government. Working with state governments on bringing forward and investing even more in major infrastructure projects is central to our JobMaker plan to restore our economy,” the Prime Minister said.
“The new Metro and the new airport will deliver billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to Western Sydney, while establishing the infrastructure needed now and into the future.
“Construction is already well underway on the airport, and later this year works will start on this new Metro service which will link the suburbs of Western Sydney to the rest of Sydney.
“Getting work started on this project and many other infrastructure projects across New South Wales and Australia is critical to my government’s JobMaker program as we rebuild the economy during COVID-19.
“Late last year we agreed to bring forward $4.2 billion worth of infrastructure investment across Australia to secure jobs and support the national economy, and we continue to look at further opportunities to accelerate projects in all states and territories.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport was a key part of the state’s record $100 billion infrastructure pipeline.
“Now more than ever we need projects that provide jobs to support families and this project is major economic stimulus right in the heart of western Sydney,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This project is moving forward, through the hard work that has been carried out by the Federal, New South Wales and local governments over the past year.
“The opportunities this mega project will provide are vital as our economy recovers from the financial impact of the COVID-19.”
The Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport includes six proposed metro railway stations, including:
- Two stations within the airport site, at the airport terminal and at the airport business park;
- A station serving the commercial heart of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis;
- A station at St Marys, interchanging with the existing suburban railway station and connecting customers with the rest of Sydney’s rail system;
- A station at Orchard Hills; and
- A station at Luddenham to service a future education, innovation and commercial precinct.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said Western Sydney residents will reap the benefits of this investment well before the first train leaves the station.
“This project will support 14,000 jobs, bringing new opportunities for the people of Western Sydney, closer to home.”
“It represents an economic stimulus in the middle of Western Sydney, supporting jobs for electricians, carpenters, plumbers, tunnellers, surveyors, crane and forklift operators and truck drivers.
NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said supporting the airport and Aerotropolis is a key part of the Western Sydney City Deal, a 20-year agreement signed in March 2018 by the Commonwealth Government, NSW Government, and eight Western Sydney councils.
“The Metro Western Sydney Airport project will be a game-changer for the region, providing the backbone for the economic and broader development,” Mr Ayres said.
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance says the new line will service greater Western Sydney and the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
“This new metro railway line will become the transport spine for the region, connecting travellers from the new airport to the rest of Sydney’s public transport system.”
The Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport is being funded on an equal joint basis by the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments under the Western Sydney City Deal.
The $5.3 billion Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is being fully funded by the Commonwealth Government.