Category: NSW News

Master planning will commence this month on the new Bankstown Hospital.

The NSW Government has committed $1.3 billion for the new hospital to meet the healthcare needs of one of South Western Sydney’s fastest growing and most culturally diverse communities.

The new hospital will be located in Bankstown’s CBD, with convenient access to public transport.

The master plan will outline the vision for the site including an ongoing TAFE NSW presence. It will also identify the location of key aspects of the hospital, including clinical services, parking and future expansion zones.

Master planning will also explore how the new facility will integrate with the community and connect with local road and existing and future public transport networks.

The existing Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital provides a wide range of general medical and surgical care and a variety of sub-specialty services to the community.

Speciality areas include emergency medicine, cardiology, intensive care, maternity, women’s and children’s health, rehabilitation, aged care, drug health and mental health.

The scope for the new Bankstown Hospital will be determined through the planning process, and is anticipated to include:

• emergency services
• intensive care
• surgery and interventional procedures
• women’s and children’s Health
• aged health
• mental health
• ambulatory care services.

Community consultation and an Expressions of Interest for the project’s Community Reference Group will be advertised in the coming months.

The site of the new Bankstown Hospital offers precinct opportunities for health, education, research partners, including TAFE NSW and universities, to meet the learning needs of the local community, improve educational outcomes, and support the state’s priority skills need.  

TAFE NSW will consult with its employees and students about relocating TAFE NSW facilities during construction of the new hospital.

Services will continue to be delivered at the existing hospital while construction on the new hospital is underway. When the new facility is completed and services have transferred, the existing site will be considered for repurposing for health uses.

Find out more information about the Bankstown Hospital redevelopment

Health Minister Ryan Park:

“The new Bankstown Hospital master planning will outline a vision for a world class health care facility which makes the most of its location.”

“This master plan will be developed in consultation with the local community, so we can deliver a hospital which will support the needs of this growing community well into the future.”

“Key stakeholders including council, planning agencies, staff and community members can contribute to both clinical and site planning.”

The Hon. Jihad Dib MP, Member for Bankstown:

“The new Bankstown Hospital is going to have a big impact on our community and it’s important that we work with members of the community so we can have the best and most practical hospital possible.”

“We want to know what’s important to patients, carers, visitors, staff and community members so we can plan a hospital which truly reflects our unique multicultural city.”

Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Minister, Steve Whan:

“I am thrilled to be partnering with the Minister for Health on this important and well overdue health and education campus.”

“TAFE NSW is committed to continuing its service delivery in the Bankstown CBD, both during construction of the new hospital and once it is operational.”

Kylie Wilkinson, Member for East Hills:

“We’re really pleased the community and other local stakeholders will get a good opportunity to have their say about how the new and existing hospital will meet their needs.”

“There will be ample opportunity to find out more and have your say, with a series of pop-up information sessions in key locations and opportunities to join community reference groups.”

Lynda Voltz, Member for Auburn:

“This will be a lifechanging infrastructure for the Bankstown community and surrounds.”

“I’m proud to be part of a government that is focused on the health and wellbeing of the people of NSW.”

Dr Matt Smith, Emergency Department Director, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital:

“I am excited master planning is starting for the new Bankstown Hospital. A new contemporary hospital will offer our community state-of-the-art facilities and I am looking forward to hearing more about the vision for the site.’’

Mr Sanjay Lele, Consumer and Community Participation Member, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital:

“I was involved in the planning of the hospital’s new Emergency Department which opened in 2021. It was a great experience and I hope to have the opportunity to contribute to community consultation for the new Bankstown Hospital. The involvement of local people in the planning of the new hospital is essential to ensure the new hospital meets the needs of everyone in our community.’’

Two well-known locations in the Byron Bay area now have Aboriginal dual names, following requests from local communities and in a nod to the cultural significance of these sites.

Since June 2001, the NSW Government has supported a dual naming policy for geographical features and cultural sites, with 45 geographical features having been dual named so far. The policy aims to recognise traditional Aboriginal place names alongside existing European names.

Where a geographical feature has a non-Aboriginal name, a traditional Aboriginal name can be assigned. The name will hold equal status to the non-Aboriginal name and can be used individually or combined.

The NSW Geographical Names Board has approved the submission from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to officially dual-name Cape Byron as Walgun and Julian Rocks as Nguthungulli, while a reserve in the suburb of Bangalow has been named Piccabeen Park.

Nguthungulli/Julian Rocks is a significant and sacred Aboriginal site associated with several dreaming stories of the Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal) people and other Bundjalung people. Nguthungulli, said to be the Father of the World, is the traditional name used by the Arakwal people.

Walgun/Cape Byron maintains significance to the Arakwal and other Bundjalung people, with the area being used for important gatherings and ceremonial practices.

Cape Byron is known by the local Aboriginal community as Walgun, which means ‘shoulder’ in the Bundjalung Language.

The dual names are supported by the Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation and the Cape Byron Trust.

The GNB and Byron Shire Council have also worked together to formally name a reserve in the suburb of Bangalow as Piccabeen Park, which is located at 27 Deacon Street, Bangalow.

Piccabeen is a Bundjalung word used to describe the Bangalow Palm and/or baskets made from its palm frond. The reserve is home to many Bangalow Palms. The name is supported by the Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation.

Minister for Heritage and the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“The dual naming of Nguthungulli/Julian Rocks and Walgun/Cape Byron acknowledges the traditional custodians and their special connection to these culturally, spiritually and historically significant sites.

“I want to thank the Traditional Owners who have worked to have these places dual named and I look forward to them being used so we can tell more of the stories of the these important areas.”

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“Place naming gives communities the opportunity to unlock past stories, preserve traditions, reawaken language and provide a sense of belonging and identity.”

“The NSW Government is committed to the preservation and promotion of Aboriginal languages and acknowledging Aboriginal culture through place naming in NSW.”

“All Australians share a relationship to the land and the names we give to places convey their significance, sense of history and identity.

“Dual-naming acknowledges the significance of Aboriginal culture and represents a meaningful step towards the process of unity in NSW.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“The Arakwal and other Bundjalung people have had unbroken connections to these places through Story, kinship and Language since the first sunrise.”

“It is only right to honour that history and that connection through names that bring Story and Language to life for all Australians to enjoy.”

An important step has been taken for the biggest upgrade of Canterbury Hospital in 26 years, with the project’s lead design team appointed. 

The NSW Government is investing $350 million in the Canterbury Hospital redevelopment to expand the facility and deliver upgrades to existing infrastructure.  

Health Minister Ryan Park said the expansion of services will ensure the facility is able to respond to the health needs of the growing community in Sydney’s south-west. 

“Canterbury Hospital has been serving the community since 1929 and received its last major upgrade in 1998,” Mr Park said.  

“This investment will help build the healthcare infrastructure to meet the needs of the growing community and enable our dedicated health staff to deliver high-quality care in the latest facilities.

“In the coming months, the lead design team will work with Health Infrastructure and Sydney Local Health District to determine the key clinical service priorities and progress the planning for the redevelopment.” 

The Canterbury-Bankstown Local Government Area is forecast to grow by 13% in the next 12 years, with an estimated population of 443,000 by 2036.   

Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis said the $350 million investment will enable Canterbury Hospital to meet the health needs of its diverse community. 

“I am so grateful for the wonderful staff at Canterbury Hospital who, through this redevelopment, will have state of the art facilities to continue providing excellent care to the community,” Ms Cotsis said. 

“Canterbury is a vibrant and hardworking community, and the much-welcomed redevelopment of the hospital will provide local jobs in health, technology and clinical support services.”

The NSW Government is investing $3 billion for new and upgraded hospitals and health services across greater western Sydney, one of the largest investments in the region’s health infrastructure in recent years.    

The 2023-24 NSW State Budget also included:    

• an additional $400 million to build the $700 million Rouse Hill Hospital 
• $550 million for Fairfield Hospital, in its first major redevelopment since it opened in 1989
• $120 million investment to expand capacity at Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals
• $1.3 billion to build the Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital on a new site, the first major investment since the two hospitals merged in 1997. 

The scope of the project and indicative timing of the works will be finalised during planning and design. Staff, stakeholders, and the community will be kept informed and consulted as the project progresses.

Netball NSW is excited to announce a new streaming partnership with Sideline Sport who will broadcast every game of the 2024 Netball NSW Premier League.

Competition gets underway on Wednesday 20 March at Netball Central in Sydney Olympic Park and every centre pass, intercept and goal will be streamed live and on demand via netballnsw.tv.

In 2024 the Premier League Opens and Under 23s divisions will both feature 10 teams, with each division playing out over 18 minor rounds and their respective Finals Series.

Foundation franchises Central Coast Heart, ERNA Hawks, GWS Fury, Manly Warringah Sapphires, North Shore United, Panthers Netball, Sutherland Stingrays and UTS Randwick Sparks all return alongside South Coast Blaze, who joined in 2020, and a brand-new franchise in the South West Mounties Magic.

All matches taking place on Netball Central’s Show Court and Court 1 will be free to view live and for up to one week after the matches conclude.

All other content will be accessible via Daily, Monthly or Season Viewing Passes from netballnsw.tv.

Netball NSW CEO Tracey Scott is thrilled that the Premier League, the state’s top club competition, will continue to be easily accessible for the netball community to watch.

“We are now in our ninth year of the Netball NSW Premier League and have seen it grow year on year,” she said.

“Sideline Sports have expertise in bringing pathway and community sport to life on the screen and their people know the game of netball well.

“They will bring a fresh approach to the content which is top quality live sport and will provide a broadcast fitting of our athletes, coaches and officials taking part.”

Hamish Bayliss, Sideline Sport’s Chief Commercial Officer, added:

“Sideline Sport is thrilled to partner with Netball NSW to provide a premium streaming service to watch the best netball competition in the state, showcasing the best players and emerging talent every Wednesday night.”

States and territories have today been put on notice that NSW will advocate hard for substantial change in the system of distributing GST funds collected by the Commonwealth.

At a meeting of the nation’s treasurers, NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey proposed reforms to overhaul how the GST is distributed across the states and territories.

He also said the GST distribution should in future be determined by the Commonwealth Grants Commission (CGC) on a per capita basis with the Commonwealth stepping in to support horizontal fiscal equalisation for the smaller states.

This would eliminate the wild fluctuations which prevent states from being able to plan for future GST contributions to their budgets.

NSW’s share of the GST pool was slashed from 92.4 per cent per capita to 86.7 per cent per capita in one hit this week, just three months out from the state budget.

That amounts to a $1.65 billion impact in a single decision at the Commonwealth level.

Mr Mookhey laid out a series on proposals for how the CGC’s approach could be improved, including:

• Providing its updates to cover four-year budget forward estimates, rather than the single-year approach currently employed, so the full implications of CGC decisions is transparent.
• Issuing a draft determination aligned with the states’ and territories’ half year review cycles so that states can properly prepare their budgets.
• Sharing data on service delivery costs provided by states and territories which are used for the determinations, to improve transparency and accountability.

NSW will advance these propositions with the Federal Treasurer directly.

NSW maintains there are tough conversations ahead regarding other Commonwealth funding obligations.

That includes making sure NSW doesn’t miss out on money for schools and hospitals, that it gets the funding it deserves in the middle of a housing crisis and that missing infrastructure money is clawed back.

Mr Mookhey acknowledged the constructive approach of Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers in bringing forward the GST discussion.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“A system this absurd cannot last. It is not set in stone and it is time for it to change.

“This will be to the benefit of all the states and territories, including the smaller ones.

“We all have a responsibility to ensure every State in the Federation can thrive.

“I thank Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers for facilitating these discussions constructively. There are plenty of hard conversations ahead.”

Kate Boyd PSM, has been appointed as Secretary of The Cabinet Office.

The appointment process was led by the Secretary of the Premier’s Department, Simon Draper, in consultation with the NSW Premier, Chris Minns.

Ms Boyd has been acting in the role since late last year, and prior to that appointment had held the role of Deputy Secretary, General Counsel, in both The Cabinet office and the former Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Ms Boyd has profound experience of central department responsibilities, having worked at the Department of Premier and Cabinet since 2007 and then The Cabinet Office. In that time, she has provided advice on constitutional and electoral law, parliamentary matters, integrity and accountability, privacy and access to government information.

Ms Boyd is a highly regarded NSW public servant and was awarded a Public Service Medal for her outstanding work during the 2019-2020 bushfire season and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Established on July 1, 2023, The Cabinet Office is a central NSW Government department that enables robust Cabinet decision-making by ensuring policies and proposals submitted for consideration are of the highest quality and in line with government priorities.

The Cabinet Office:

• Leads and coordinates strategy and policy across government, including driving action​on the Government’s key priorities.
• Provides expert independent policy, legal and governance advice to the Premier and Cabinet, including on National Cabinet matters.
• Upholds Cabinet conventions and provides stewardship of the NSW Cabinet system to support good decision-making.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“The establishment of The Cabinet Office has ensured high-quality Cabinet decision-making processes are front and centre.

“I am very pleased to continue working with Kate Boyd as Secretary, as she leads a team of experts to provide policy and legal advice on some of the biggest challenges facing our State.”

The Parramatta Light Rail project has reached a major milestone in the heart of Western Sydney overnight, when the first tram rolled through Parramatta CBD as testing ramps up ahead of services beginning later this year.

The 45-metre-long light rail vehicle travelled slowly under police escort on its inaugural 6.6-kilometre journey from the stabling facility in Camellia, through Parramatta Square, along Church St, through the hospital precinct, to its final stop at Westmead.

Parramatta locals and visitors can look forward to seeing more tram trials through the city, during the day and night, with more than 2000 hours of testing to be completed before it’s given the green light to take passengers.

When the light rail is in service, more than 16,000 people are expected to use the Church Street stop each day to connect to more than 60 local eateries, shops and businesses.

Last night’s test also marks the first time a 63-tonne tram travelled over the new Bidgee Bidgee Bridge in Rosehill, which allows vehicles to cross James Ruse Drive without disrupting traffic. The bridge, named after the famed leader of the Burramattagal clan of the Dharug People, is the largest of 6 new bridges built for the project.

The community is reminded to be alert for trams when walking, riding or driving near the light rail, and to follow signs and traffic directions. A comprehensive safety campaign continues to be rolled out in line with the testing program.

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 connects Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia.

The Parramatta Square light rail stop will connect to the future Metro West station, due to open in 2032, and Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2, which has now been granted NSW planning approval.

The NSW Government’s investment into public transport infrastructure will ensure our growing city is more connected than ever before, while supporting much-needed housing.

For more information visit the Parramatta Light Rail website. For information on how to stay safe around the Parramatta Light Rail during testing, visit the Testing and Commissioning Safety page.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“I am delighted to mark this milestone with a tram travelling through Parramatta CBD for the first time in over 80 years – giving us a glimpse of what the future of public transport will look like in Western Sydney.

“This is another exciting milestone in our commitment to making sure Parramatta Light Rail is on track to service tens of thousands of passengers by mid-2024.

“The light rail will breathe new life into Western Sydney, boosting local businesses, connecting key precincts and servicing an estimated 28,000 passengers each day in our west.

“The people of Western Sydney deserve reliable public transport, and that is what we are delivering.”

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“People living in Western Sydney deserve reliable, world-class public transport links and that’s what we’re delivering this year.

“This project has supported 5500 jobs – and I want to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to make this milestone possible.

“In the coming months, these trams will be a brand new public transport service connecting some of our fastest growing communities. 

“We’re also pushing forward with next stage of Parramatta Light Rail, because communities like Wentworth Point and Melrose Park deserve the public transport services that they were promised.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“It is fantastic to see how the light rail will support local businesses in our CBD, which have had a challenging few years due to COVID and construction impacts.

“I encourage everyone over the coming months to visit Parramatta, drop into a local business on the light rail route and see the light rail vehicles as they move through the city and surrounding suburbs.”

Transport for NSW Infrastructure and Place Deputy Secretary Camilla Drover said:

“The Parramatta Light Rail project is well and truly advancing, after testing on the Carlingford section of the line got underway in December last year.

“Safety remains a key priority for the project, and I encourage everyone to stay safe around the light rail as testing continues.

“This is the first time vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists have had to interact with light rail in Parramatta, so we ask all road users to remain vigilant. Please take extra care to be safe when walking, riding or driving near the light rail and pay attention to the signs and traffic directions.”

Legislation introduced today will require insurers to provide specified data to the NSW Government to help reform the way emergency services are funded.

The amendment to the Emergency Services Levy Act 2017 will give Treasurer Daniel Mookhey authority to access anonymised data including the premiums paid on insurance policies and the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) component of those premiums.

Subject to privacy protections, this data will allow the Government to conduct detailed modelling and design of a new system to replace the current ESL.

NSW is the only mainland state to fund its emergency services by taxing insurance and has the highest average insurance premiums in any state apart from cyclone-prone Queensland.  

The ESL has caused premiums in NSW to be around 18 per cent higher for residential properties and around 34 per cent higher for commercial properties.

It’s also contributed to NSW having the lowest rate of home and contents insurance in Australia. 35 per cent of NSW households are going without contents insurance and 5 per cent of homeowners do not have building insurance.

As fewer people take out insurance policies, the emergency services levy burden increases for those who do have cover.

The Government announced the formation of a Stakeholder Reference Group last week, which will provide expert advice and perspectives to government as it moves ahead with this reform.

A public consultation paper will be released in the coming weeks.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“It’s imperative that the Government has access to the latest data held by insurers.  This will help to redesign the way emergency services are funded in NSW in the most effective way.

“This is information that will help government to model a new system that can sustainably fund NSW emergency services.

“With the cost of natural disasters only expected to rise with climate change, we’re acting now to find a better way to fund our emergency services and ease the burden falling disproportionately on households and businesses that choose to get insured.”

The Inaugural NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Strategic Plan, Working together to address domestic, family and sexual violence, has been released today, providing a roadmap for the Office of the Women’s Safety Commissioner’s activities between 2024 and 2027.

Last year the NSW Government became the first state or territory in Australia to have a stand-alone Women’s Safety Commissioner, Dr. Hannah Tonkin.

Lead by Dr. Tonkin the Strategic Plan sets out actions aimed at achieving 6 overarching and interconnected priorities to address domestic, family and sexual violence, by the Women’s Safety Commissioner and the NSW Government.

Priority 1 of the plan, ‘Put people with lived experience at the centre’, recognises the inclusion of people with lived experiences is crucial in planning, designing and implementing policy and programs to address domestic, family and sexual violence.

To support this the Office of the Women’s Safety Commissioner will create a lived experience advisory body for NSW, supported by a broader network of people with diverse lived experiences across the state. This will be a significant step forward and complement existing groups.

The Strategic plan also outlines 5 other priorities, including:

• enhancing oversight, monitoring and accountability for delivery of the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Plan 2022-27 and NSW Sexual Violence Plan 2022-27
• promote safe, accessible and integrated responses to domestic, family and sexual violence
• champion a greater focus on primary prevention
• strengthen domestic, family and sexual violence workforces and informal support networks.
• support women’s economic safety and security.

Over the coming years these priorities will guide the Office of the Women’s Safety Commissioner.

The progress in relation to these priorities will be published in an annual report card by the Office of the Women’s Safety Commissioner.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“People with lived experience of domestic, family and sexual violence have a unique point of view that is invaluable to the NSW Government and we are committed to listening to them.

“The NSW Government welcomes the launch of this strategy as part of our commitment to implement a range of strategies to reduce and eventually eliminate domestic, family and sexual violence.

“This strategy is key to transforming our actions around domestic, family and sexual violence to a whole-of-government and whole-of-community issue. Not only are we putting victim-survivors at the centre, we are also focusing on primary prevention to address the drivers of violence.”

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin said:

“Eliminating domestic and family violence is a complex challenge that will require both systems reform and cultural change over the long term. The creation of a lived experience advisory body, supported by a broader network of people with diverse lived experience, is a significant step that would complement existing groups in NSW.

“We will consult with experts, including in other jurisdictions, to ensure that the establishment and operation of the new body follows best practice.

“We recognise that no single group of people can ever represent such a diverse range of experiences, so we will continue to work closely with community organisations and researchers to ensure a wide range of voices are heard and listened to.”

Dubbo residents and visitors now have a safer and more accessible train station after the completion of a significant upgrade.

The NSW Government’s accessibility upgrade to Dubbo Station includes better lighting and security and improvements to the ticket counter and waiting room.

The work also included regrading and line marking of the 32-space car park, the installation of new tactile indicators along the station platform to improve safety and accessibility for people with vision impairment, the replacement of external lighting and installation of new heritage light poles.

Upgrades have also been made to existing paths around the station precinct with new surfaces and tactile indicators. Other key benefits include a new kiss and ride zone and improved amenities.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The historic Dubbo Station has been operating since around 1881 and is a landmark in the community.

“This upgrade has enhanced the facility to make it more comfortable for current commuters and to help plan for future growth while protecting and retaining the facility’s heritage status.

“We also made upgrades to the five bus and coach bays, regraded parts of the platform and installed new drainage.

“Modifications have also been completed to the café and ticketing counters, which have been lowered to make them accessible for customers in wheelchairs, as well as to the waiting room where we have improved lighting and provided wheelchair spaces alongside the seating.”

Dubbo Duty MLC Stephen Lawrence said:

“I’ve been watching the development proceed over the last seven months and have been extremely impressed with the improvements.

“Dubbo Station is a major bus and coach interchange given that it is the end of the line for the passenger train, and the improvements will enhance the transport experience.

“This Government sees improvements to public transport as a vital part of people’s quality of life in region, rural and remote NSW.”

The Safe Accessible Transport program aims to make public transport safe, inclusive, and easy to use for all passengers, especially people with disability, older people, people with prams or luggage and others who may be experiencing mobility problems.

The 2023-2024 NSW Budget allocated a total of $800.7m over four years to implement the new program, which combines the funds of both the existing Transport Access Program (TAP) and Commuter Car Park Program (CCP) and includes an additional $300m commitment.

The program will upgrade stations and wharves to achieve Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT) compliance, improving amenity, access and safety and acknowledging the important role these locations have to the communities they serve.