Category: NSW News

Motorists can begin claiming their toll cap cash back from today, with an average $134 available to eligible toll account holders who have spent more than $60 in tolls in any week since January 1.

From today, eligible customers can visit the toll relief section of the Service NSW website and link their toll account with their Service NSW account to make a claim.

Western Sydney motorists stand to receive most back under the NSW Government’s $60 toll cap, with Kellyville, Baulkham Hills, Greystanes, Marsden Park and Moorebank the suburbs with the highest number of potential claimants on the scheme.

Overall, there are 350,000 toll account holders entitled to a rebate after the first three months of the $60 toll cap being in place.

Approximately $46.8 million is eligible to be claimed after the first quarterly period.

Drivers who spend on average $200 per week on tolls will receive approximately $7280 in rebates each year.

Data shows the Government is getting cost-of-living assistance to where it is needed most, with Kellyville, Baulkham Hills, Greystanes, Marsden Park and Moorebank making up the top five suburbs for toll account holders eligible to claim toll relief.

Suburb	Accounts entitled	Average rebate
Kellyville	7,406	$145
Baulkham Hills	6,604	$168
Greystanes	5,952	$195
Marsden Park	5,491	$195
Moorebank	5,220	$147

Some suburbs have fewer eligible claims but a higher average rebate per account. They include Lakemba ($309), Auburn ($266), Bankstown ($235), Rosehill ($232) and Villawood ($227).

To be eligible, a motorist must:

• be a NSW resident;
• hold a personal toll account with a NSW toll service provider, taking private trips on a NSW toll road, excluding those on the M5 South-West for customers registered for the M5 South-West Cashback Scheme at the same time, and 
• spend more than $60 a week from their individual tag or licence plate on tolls on eligible, personal trips.

A fair use provision will ensure the integrity of the scheme, with motorists able to claim up to $400 in tolls for a maximum rebate of $340 a week for each tag or licence plate on a toll account.

For more information about the rebate, visit the Service NSW website.

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“We know families are doing it tough right across Sydney and NSW and the $60 toll cap is an important part of the NSW Government’s commitment to provide cost-of-living relief.

“The toll cap was designed with providing toll relief to where it is needed most so it is good to see that much of it will go to motorists in Western Sydney who have for a long time dealt with unavoidable quarterly and annual toll price increases while having fewer choices when it comes to the public transport alternative to driving.

“It’s a quick and simple process to link a toll account online with Service NSW to make a quarterly claim and I urge those who are eligible to do so from today.

“You can link your toll account to your MyServiceNSW account, view your Toll Tracker and then if eligible, submit your claim. It will be even quicker if you have your details like your toll account number and bank account information ready to go.”

The NSW Government has completed the clean up and revitalisation of the derelict Three Rivers Regional Retirement Community Project in Dunedoo.

This project, funded by $3.8 million from the NSW Government and $1.8 million from the Australian Government, is now complete.

Contractors engaged by NSW Public Works recently remediated the 1.5-hectare site, which has been an eyesore blighting the entrance to the town for the past decade.

Materials were carefully disassembled and removed during the three-month clean-up operation, with 95 per cent of items including door frames, insulation, roof sheeting and timber trusses recycled and provided to locals for free, saving 65 tonnes of useful materials from landfill.

Crews have hydro mulched the site to prevent dust spread and a new perimeter fence was erected around the formerly derelict site, which has been a long-term target for local vandals.

The Department of Regional NSW will work closely with Warrumbungle Shire Council and the community on future plans for the site, including consultation with locals in the coming months about options to activate the site and potentially build independent living units.

Planners will also consider if new accommodation at the site could support the work already underway by EnergyCo as part of the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.

The original Warrumbungle Shire Council Three Rivers project included the construction of 27 independent living units as well as a community centre, community garden, and an agricultural education facility.

Construction commenced in 2014 but was stalled due to legal proceedings between Warrumbungle Shire Council and the builder.

A legal settlement was reached in December 2022 and NSW Public Works was engaged in mid-2023 to clean up the site.

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“I’m so glad that progress has finally been made at the Three Rivers site at Dunedoo.

“Having seen the derelict site while driving into the town on the Golden Highway I know what a thorn in the side it has been for locals for all of these years to have this defunct project marring the entry to their otherwise beautiful town.

“With the site now cleared, options for its future development are able to be scoped and considered and the future looks very bright for Dunedoo.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

“The remediation of the Three Rivers site will hopefully help the Dunedoo community and Warrumbungle Shire Council heal from a long and painful process. This site has been a visual reminder of a failed contract and protracted litigation, so I’m really happy for the Dunedoo community.

This site could be a huge asset for the town. I encourage the community to get involved and have a say about how the site should be utilised in the future, with the NSW Government and Warrumbungle Shire Council consulting with locals in the coming months.”

Warrumbungle Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Ambrose Doolan said:

“This has been a long time coming for the Dunedoo Community and to now have a cleared we are only looking forward into the future prospects of this site.

“Council, along with the Dunedoo Community, are looking forward for future developments on this site for our community.” 

Work to rebuild Coulsons Creek Road in the Upper Hunter, NSW, is now in full swing following more than $48 million in funding provided by the Australian and NSW governments.

The work on Coulsons Creek Road will take place between Merriwa and Willow Tree Road.

The road had been previously completed in 2019, but the vital community connection was significantly damaged by heavy rainfall and subsequent land slips, causing its closure in 2021.

The upgraded road will feature improved drainage, protection against rock falls, new safety barriers, signage and line marking.

Transport for NSW, Infrastructure NSW and Public Works Advisory worked closely with the Upper Hunter Shire Council on a new design for the road.

The Australian Government has committed $38.6 million and the NSW Government $9.66 million for the repairs to be carried out.

Daracon Group has been awarded the contract to carry out the work.

Work is expected to be complete by mid 2025, weather permitting.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said:

“It is great to see work getting under way on this important regional road in the Upper Hunter after being closed for more than three years, and to see the cooperation between the three levels of government.

“We know how important this road is for agriculture and livestock, providing essential access for farmers and livestock producers.

“It will also reduce travel times for all road users while improving safety by reducing traffic volumes on those roads that were being used as detours while Coulsons Creek Road was out of service.”

NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said:

“Work on this road will restore an important connection between the Golden and New England highways, benefiting tourism in this beautiful part of regional NSW, logistics, distribution and supply chains.

“Having three NSW Government agencies working with the Upper Hunter Shire Council with multi-million-dollar contributions from the Australian and NSW governments demonstrates how all levels of government recognise the importance of this road.”

Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi said:

“The upgrade of this three-kilometre section of road will mean B-double trucks will once again be able to use this route, meaning heavier loads can be transported more efficiently.

“This provides cost savings for heavy vehicle operators and the community.”

NSW Duty MLC for Upper Hunter, Emily Suvaal said:

“I am delighted to see that this crucial upgrade work to Coulsons Creek Road is well and truly underway.

“This is a huge win for the community here in the Upper Hunter, with all levels of government coming together to ensure delivery on these crucial upgrade works.

“I commend the hard work of everyone involved in making this project happen and look forward to taking a drive myself once the work is complete.”

Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Maurice Collison said:

“Today marks a pivotal moment for the Upper Hunter region as we break ground on the Coulsons Creek Road upgrade.

“This project represents the collective efforts and dedication of our community, backed by significant support from the NSW and Australian governments.

“Their support reaffirms the critical role of government partnership in driving regional growth and prosperity.

“We are committed to enhancing our infrastructure to support our community’s needs today and into the future.”

NSW Local Court Magistrate Ross Hudson has been appointed a Judge of the District Court of NSW, Attorney General Michael Daley announced today.

Magistrate Hudson brings a wealth of judicial experience and skill to the District Court bench, having served as a Local Court Magistrate since 2015.

As well as determining a range of matters, including sentencing, applications and hearings as part of his core work, Magistrate Hudson has been a member of the Local Court Education Committee for the past six years.

In addition, he served as President of the NSW Magistrates’ Association, which represents more than 100 judicial officers of the NSW Local Court.

He will be formally sworn into the District Court of NSW on Tuesday 23 April 2024.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“I warmly congratulate Magistrate Hudson on his elevation to the District Court of NSW.

“Magistrate Hudson has been a great asset to the Local Court of NSW for the past nine years where he is well regarded for his extensive knowledge of criminal law, court procedures and processes.

“His expertise will be a significant addition to the operation of the District Court of NSW.”

Ross Hudson – biography

Magistrate Hudson commenced his career 25 years ago, first working as a paralegal at Carl Shannon Chambers – The Public Defenders.

Admitted as a solicitor in 2002, he worked at the criminal law specialist firm, William O’Brien Solicitors, becoming an accredited specialist in Criminal Law in 2007 and a partner in 2009.

He appeared in a broad range of jurisdictions while in this role, including the High Court, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, Supreme Court, District Court, Local Court, and the Children’s Court, as well as working on coronial inquests in NSW and matters before the NSW and Australian Crime Commissions and ICAC.

He became a Magistrate of the NSW Local Court in 2015 where he has presided over a number of high-profile cases, building a reputation for providing clear and concise reasons for Judgments as well as his efficient management of court processes.

The public is invited to have their say on the best path forward to reform the way emergency services are funded via a consultation paper which is now online.

The NSW Government is encouraging views on the design and scope of a new model to replace the current system which places the burden of an Emergency Services Levy (ESL) on insurance premiums.

Currently, only households and businesses that pay for insurance are paying the levy to fund Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW State Emergency Service.

The NSW Government last November announced the levy would be removed from insurance and applied instead to property.

The ESL Consultation Paper is seeking feedback on four possible models to create a sustainable system that will spread the costs across all property owners.

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring any new model will include protections for pensioners and vulnerable members of the community. The model will also be revenue-neutral and continue to be determined solely by the funding needs of the three agencies.

As climate change increases the instances of natural disasters, the funding requirements of our emergency services are expected to continue rising, increasing the ESL, and making insurance more unaffordable.

In fact, NSW Treasury estimates that the total annual cost of flood and bushfire to the economy is projected to increase from $7 billion in 2020-21 to $24 billion by 2070-71 as climate change related extreme weather events become more frequent and intense.

The existing ESL has pushed insurance premiums in NSW up by around 18 per cent for residential property and around 34 per cent higher for commercial property.

Rising costs now mean more than one-third of households in NSW do not have home contents insurance – which is the highest rate of any state in the nation.

The Government is asking for feedback on a range of design features, including how levy rates should apply to different property types and locations, how the levy should be collected, and what protections should be provided for pensioners and other vulnerable groups.

The release of the Consultation Paper follows the announcement of a Stakeholder Reference Group which is providing the Government with a broad range of expert advice on a new model.

The Consultation Paper is open for feedback until 22 May 2024.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“Public feedback is an important step in reforming the way emergency services are funded into the future.

“I want to ensure that we create a lasting system where everyone contributes to the crucial emergency services we all rely on.

“We’re encouraging industry stakeholders and the wider community to express their views now so the new funding model for emergency services in NSW is fair, efficient, simple and adapted to the future impacts of climate change.”

South Western Sydney motorists are a step closer to safer, faster trips home and to work, with an Expressions of Interest (EoI) open today to design the upgrade of a 1.8km stretch of Henry Lawson Drive.

As the next stage of the Henry Lawson Drive project, the NSW Government is calling on industry to register to tender for the upgrade of the section between the M5 and Auld Avenue, Milperra.

Known as Stage 1B, this stage of the project will include:

• Widening Henry Lawson Drive to two lanes in each direction and creating new connections between Auld Avenue, Keys Parade, Raleigh Road and Henry Lawson Drive.
• Upgrades of key intersection at Keys Parade, Bullecourt Avenue, and Pozieres Avenue, such as turning lanes and traffic signals.

As a key connector road to Bankstown Airport and residential areas of Milperra, the upgrade will ensure drivers in this part of south-west Sydney will get a safer road with shorter travel times.

Upgraded intersections with Auld Avenue, Keys Parade and Raleigh Road will be delivered as part of the stage 1B upgrade along with continuous pedestrian and cycle links to places like the Auld Avenue sporting fields complex and Milperra Sports Centre.

The designs for this section will incorporate improvements that have come out of community consultation, including changes to shared paths and crossings to minimise tree removal and improve safety.

Construction work on the nearby $144 million Stage 1A upgrade of Henry Lawson Drive is powering ahead, with widening and safety works between Auld Avenue and Tower Road, including the intersection with Newbridge Road.

This work builds on the improvements made in the Georges Hall section of the upgrades completed last year. There are now improvements completed, in delivery, or in design along almost eight kilometres of Henry Lawson Drive.

Transport for NSW will provide updates as the wider project progresses and the community is encouraged to share any additional feedback.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“This is an important upgrade for Southwest Sydney residents. The work on Henry Lawson Drive will mean less congestion, faster and safer trips for motorists.

“We look forward to industry providing the designs that will allow for construction of this next stage.”

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“The Henry Lawson Drive upgrade is providing more capacity for motorists which means improved access for families to local schools and community facilities like the Auld Avenue sporting fields complex and Milperra Sports Centre.

“We listened to the community during consultation and have acted on that feedback. The revised proposal improves traffic flow by including lane widening on Keys Parade and Raleigh Road near the planned roundabout connecting the two roads.”

Member for East Hills Kylie Wilkinson said:

“This proposal is supported by the community but requests were made by locals for a number of changes following the display of the Review of Environmental Factors.

“Lengthening the left turn lane from Henry Lawson Drive into Bullecourt Avenue has been addressed so drivers have a better line of sight.”

Working families across NSW are set to benefit from more access to early childhood education and care, including new programs, longer hours, weekend operating hours and additional places, as part of a new $20 million program.

The Flexible Initiatives Trial (FIT) aims to address parents’ barriers to workforce participation, particularly for women, by supporting early childhood services to adapt their offerings and hours where a local community need is identified. 

Some 16 early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across metropolitan and regional NSW will receive more than $2.8 million in funding as the first round of successful applicants is announced. 

Examples of the family-friendly benefits can include:

• extending hours of operation beyond traditional working hours
• providing flexible pick-up and drop-off times
• giving families the ability to make occasional or ad hoc care arrangements
• establishing new family day care services in rural and remote areas
• partnerships between two different service types to provide extended or wraparound care.

Successful applicants through this round include Plumpton Long Day Care & Preschool, where an early intervention preschool program is now being developed and the number of licensed places is being increased by 10.

According to data from the Australia Early Development Census, there is a large number of high needs children in the Plumpton area, and the service is developing an early intervention program that will complement its existing preschool program.

Other successful applicants include Possum Early Childhood Centre in Hazelbrook extending their operating hours by 3 hours each day, Clarence Community Preschool in Grafton who will begin offering services on Saturday and Sunday, and The Yarm Gwanga Preschool and Early Education Centre in Armidale, which will expand their service by 50 new places to provide University of New England staff, students and members of the public with increased work and study options.

A full list of successful Round 1 trial applicants is below.

This is just part of the NSW Labor Government’s long-term commitment to support children and young families in the early years, which includes an historic $769 million investment to build 100 new public preschools in NSW, which is the largest investment in public preschools in the state’s history.

We have also committed $60 million to build and upgrade preschools at 50 non-government schools in areas where they are needed most, and $17 million to support capital works for early childhood services.

The NSW Government is also growing the number of early childhood workers through a major scholarship program, which continues to see a record number of applicants. 

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Every child in NSW deserves to start school with strong educational foundations, and we know early childhood education is vital in setting young children up for success.

“This trial is supporting existing services to expand their offerings and respond to the needs of their local communities. 

“This will look different in different areas across the state, with more flexibility and expanded offerings, which is a great outcome for parents and our youngest learners.”

The 16 services to receive grants are:

• Little Genius Cottage, Chifley 
• Possum Early Childhood Centre, Hazelbrook
• Nurture and Grow Early Learning Centre, Miranda
• Dee Why Children’s Centre, Dee Why
• Plumpton Long Day Care and Preschool, Plumpton
• Tyndale Early Learning Centre, Blacktown
• Diocese of Broken Bay Early Learning Centre, Forestville
• Bundgeam Preschool, Kyogle
• Bowral Street Childcare, Bowral
• Denison Street Early Learning Centre, Tamworth
• Menindee Children’s Centre, Menindee
• Federal Community Children’s Centre, Federal
• Yarm Gwanga Preschool and Early Education Centre, Armidale
• Clarence Community Preschool, Grafton 
• Yamba Early Learning Centre, Yamba
• A new family day care service, to be run by Bega Valley Family Day Care.

The NSW Opposition has condemned the Minns Labor Government for slashing public school budgets by almost $150 million, despite promising its union deals would not impact classrooms.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said principals had been blindsided by the decision that will leave students across NSW worse off.
 
“This announcement came without warning, and now school principals are forced to look at cutting staff and programs to find savings – all because the Minns Labor Government has lost control of the Budget after trying to mislead the public into believing that their union deals wouldn’t cost anything,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“In practice, this will mean students could be left without crucial learning support staff, as well as having wellbeing programs slashed and school upgrades cancelled.
 
“The timing is also concerning. The school year is well underway, meaning key decisions have already been made and people have already been employed for specific roles. This is not good enough and our kids deserve better.”
 
One school principal has revealed their school will be shortchanged by at least $150,000 and will now need to look at cutting staff.
 
Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the Minns Labor Government needs to come clean to parents about how their children will be affected. 
 
“For more than six months now, we have been calling on the Education Minister to tell us where the ‘savings’ for these union deals would come from, but now we know our students are the ones that are going to pay the price,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“Prue Car went out in the media and misled parents and teachers, assuring them the money would not be taken from schools because she had found enough savings from within the bureaucracy.
 
“Now we could see fewer school jobs and resources, which will have direct consequences on learning – parents have every right to be furious.”

Today marks 30 years since the start of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, a period of unspeakable brutality and inhumanity.

In just 100 days, more than one million people, including entire families, were slaughtered simply because of their ethnicity.

We honour those who lost their lives and the resilience of those who carry forward their memories.

Australia acknowledges the deep suffering of the Rwandan people and recognises that Rwanda’s story is not defined only by these events.

The country’s journey to recovery is a rightful source of pride for the people of Rwanda.

Australia remains unwavering in its support for accountability for serious international crimes committed in Rwanda, including through the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which carries forward the legacy of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

From today, more than 1.1 million motorists will begin to see a demerit point scrubbed from their licence as reward for maintaining good driver behaviour during the first year of the NSW Government’s demerit point trial that promotes safer roads.

The 12-month demerit point trial, which ended on January 16, provided an incentive for drivers to follow the rules and those who remained offence-free will now benefit with a demerit point removed.

The scheme gave 1.7 million motorists the chance to have a demerit point erased, with about 65 per cent of those to benefit from Sunday.

The trial has been extended for another 12-months as the NSW Government sharpens its focus on road safety in 2024.

Anyone with a NSW unrestricted licence, including professional drivers, and a demerit point on their record, has another opportunity to have a point scrapped if they remain offence-free between 17 January 2024 and 16 January 2025.

The vast majority of eligible motorists will see their demerit points removed immediately, but a small cohort will need to wait until offence notifications are finalised and court settlements processed.

To find out more about the Demerit Point Trial Scheme, visit https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/topics-tips/demerit-points.

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“Thanks to the drivers who followed the rules over the twelve month trial we are all safer as a result.

“The NSW Government believes in encouraging safety and the demerit point trial is part of our carrot-and-stick approach to reward good driving behaviour as well as appropriately penalising poor behaviour on the roads.

“I urge all motorists to renew their commitment to safe driving in 2024. The demerit point trial can provide further incentive to do so.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Many people in regional NSW depend on driving for their livelihood or just to get around and do not have the public transport alternatives of other more populated areas. The reward of a demerit point being removed will be a meaningful one to many of those people.

“This trial is unapologetically about encouraging safer driving and that’s exactly what we need in the regions where we have a third of the state’s population but more than two-thirds of all road fatalities.”

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“Eligible drivers will not have to do anything as they will automatically have their demerit point returned. Drivers will be able to check this in their demerit point summary of the Service NSW app or by logging into their MyServiceNSW account via the Service NSW website.”

“Customers can also check their demerit points balance at their local Service NSW Centre by showing their NSW driver licence or people can contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 if they have any questions.”