Category: NSW News

The NSW Government has today welcomed the decision of the Varroa Mite National Management Group to approve the National Transition to Management Plan. The group, comprised of State and Federal governments, as well as beekeeping and pollination industry representatives have unanimously agreed to usher in a new phase for biosecurity management of Varroa mite.

The priority of the NSW Government moving forward will be to work with industry to ensure beekeepers understand how to best manage the pest in this new phase.

The aim of the Transition to Management Plan is to increase resilience and minimise ongoing impacts of Varroa mite for the bee industry and pollination reliant industries. This outcome will be achieved by slowing the spread, building industry resilience, providing management options and support for pollination security.

The Australian Government, state and territory governments and 16 industries have committed to share up to $100 million of the costs of the response to date and transition to management activities. 

As a category 2 emergency plant pest the contributions are 40% (up to $40 million) from the Australian Government, 40% (up to $40 million) from state and territory governments and 20% (up to $20 million) shared across 16 industry groups.

The $100 million national program to date has helped minimise and mitigate financial impacts on Australia’s honey and pollination-dependent industries and protected thousands of jobs.

The NSW Government has prepared for this transition and can start immediately to upskill industry, with training modules already completed and ready to go.  The next step now is organising industry events, workshops, and placing materials online.

The recruitment process for new roles under the plan is currently underway and the NSW Government will immediately recruit Varroa Development Officers (VDOs) who work directly with beekeepers to increase their ability to manage Varroa. 

Another critical role of the VDOs will be to develop, train and maintain a network of volunteer beekeepers who will monitor hives for the presence of Varroa and provide information on the spread of the mite. 

Additionally, the response will employ a Pollination Industry Coordinator (PIC) to assist the pollination dependent industries to better understand and manage their needs.  This will be critical for smaller industries who have relied on wild bees for pollination and never engaged with pollination service providers. 

The NMG made the decision in late 2023 that Varroa mite was no longer eradicable from Australia after commencing the national program for eradication in July 2022.

For the latest information head to Varroa mite emergency response.

Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government is prepared and will immediately roll out resources, information, support and training for our beekeepers and pollination reliant agriculture sectors to address this new biosecurity transition.

We will work closely with industry at this critical time and deliver programs that enhance the health and robustness of NSW’s beekeeping industry.

Australia is the last major honey producing country in the world to get Varroa mite, and we are using international experience and science in understanding how best to prepare beekeepers and the beekeeping and pollination reliant industries.

Australian Honey Bee Industry Council CEO Danny Le Feuvre said:

“The plan will see Varroa Development Officers employed nationally to help drive on the ground support for beekeepers dealing with this pest for the first time, which will be welcomed by all I am sure.

Almond Board of Australia CEO Tim Jackson said:

“Pollination reliant industrues have a large stake in the transition to management as well as beekeepers.

Experience from around the world shows that pollination reliant industries will need to work very closely with beekeepers to mitigate problems caused by the Varroa mite’s impact on wild European honeybee populations.”

A new community board has been appointed to one of the region’s most important Crown land environmental and community assets, the Central Coast Wetlands – Pioneer Dairy. 

Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has appointed six new board members to manage the affairs of the wetlands for up to five years. 

The new board members are Jed Field, Samantha Willis, James Schmidt, Allan Benson, Megan Rice and an ex-officio member from Central Coast Council. Their appointments follow the process of an expression of interest seeking applicants.  

The appointees were selected due to their combinations of marketing, business and financial skills, along with environment consulting experience. 

Two appointees – Jed Field and Samantha Willis – are existing board members and will ensure continuity, experience and corporate knowledge are retained and available to the new board. 

The new board will manage the site on behalf of the NSW Government to help enhance the Crown reserve as an outstanding recreational, environmental and community parkland for the Central Coast.  

Future tasks for the board will including development and consultation on a masterplan, scoping of potential infrastructure upgrades, a sustainable business model for the reserve, and engaging and supporting volunteers in the ongoing maintenance and environmental management of the site. 

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said: 

“Crown land reserves are held in trust for communities and I thank the volunteer members for devoting their time and skills to help manage the Central Coast Wetlands-Pioneer Dairy. 

“This beautiful reserve is a natural paradise home to hundreds of bird species and enormous plant and animal biodiversity so we want to ensure it is preserved for both current and future generations.” 

Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said: 

“Central Coast Wetlands – Pioneer Dairy is an environmental and community gem that is home to important agricultural heritage and 155-hectares of woodland, wetland and open paddocks, making it the region’s biggest area of open space for public access. 

“The new board will help ensure the community helps drive the future of this important reserve so that it can continue to be a highly popular spot for families, nature lovers and community  groups.” 

The Clarence Valley community is being invited to have its say on a final proposal to rename ‘Shirley Way’ to ‘Shirley Adams Way’ over the Balun Bindarray Bridge (new Grafton bridge).

From 16 February, Clarence Valley Council will advertise the proposed renaming of the roadway on the Summerland Way from the roundabout on Big River Way, South Grafton to the traffic lights at the Clarence Street intersection in Grafton.

In November 2022, the approaches and two lanes crossing the Grafton bridge – officially named the Balun Bindarray Bridge – were named Shirley Way in recognition of the first female mayor of the Grafton City Council and long-time Jacaranda Festival supporter Shirley Adams.

At the time the Geographical Names Board of NSW only accepted naming the approaches Shirley Way.

The Adams family, supported by Clarence Valley Council and local MP Richie Williamson, has requested the approaches be renamed “Shirley Adams Way” to ensure properly recognise Shirley Adams and ensure her memory lives on.

Now in response to the request, NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison has initiated a compulsory process which could allow for the potential renaming of the road to occur.

As part of the process, community members must be given the chance to have their say on the proposed renaming and once a set feedback period ends, the renaming will be one step closer to becoming a reality.

Feedback from the community on this name change proposal can now be emailed to Transport for NSW at region.north@transport.nsw.gov.au. The deadline for the feedback period is 1 March and once feedback is considered, a decision on the renaming proposal will be announced.

Minister for Regional Roads and Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“I am proud the NSW Government is working to ensure a fitting tribute for the memory and legacy of trailblazing Shirley Adams OAM who served the Grafton and Clarence Valley communities for decades as Grafton’s first female mayor and the first female chair of the Country Mayors Association of NSW.

“Ms Adams also received a medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition for her services to local government and the Girl Guide Movement.

“It is only right that one of the city’s most important pieces infrastructure be named in Ms Adams’ honour.

“Well done to Clarence Valley community for the preserving and honouring the memory of Ms Adams.”

Clarence Valley Council general manager Laura Black said:

“Clarence Valley Council is extremely pleased that Transport for NSW is taking the steps to rename ‘Shirley Way’ to ‘Shirley Adams Way’. This will commemorate a unique person who served our community and council with distinction for many years. There are many Shirleys, but only one Shirley Adams OAM.

“The renaming of ‘Shirley Way’ to ‘Shirely Adams Way’ is supported by Clarence Valley councillors and staff. Councillors have worked tirelessly to ensure Shirley is remembered for her community achievements and decorated local government career. We look forward to working with Transport for NSW to achieve what will be a great outcome for the Adams’ family and the community.”

More than 3,400 graduate nurses and midwives will start work across metro and regional NSW public hospitals this year, providing a significant boost to health services across the state.

Health Minister Ryan Park will welcome some of the more than 200 graduate nurses and midwives commencing work across Sydney Local Health District at Sydney Olympic Park today.

The graduates will gain invaluable experience across a broad range of clinical settings, as well as in community healthcare.

Today’s announcement comes as the NSW Government is undertaking an ambitious plan to strengthen the state’s health workforce, including through:

• Implementing safe staffing levels of nurses and midwives beginning in our emergency departments;
• making permanent 1,112 nursing roles temporarily funded by the former government;
• abolishing the wages cap and delivering record pay increases for nurses, paramedics and other health workers as well as salary packaging;
• beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities; and
• increasing the rural health workforce incentive scheme package from $10,000 to up to $20,000 for recruitment to our hardest to fill roles
• Introducing a total of 12,000 tertiary health study subsidies of $4,000 a year over three years for newly commencing students, or one off $8,000 for existing students paid upon commencement in a role in NSW Health, to assist with the cost of study and to attract health graduates to work with the NSW public health system.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“I welcome these graduates who are about to begin their professional journey with NSW Health and thank them for their commitment to providing high quality, compassionate healthcare to the people of NSW.

“NSW has one of the best health systems in the world, and throughout their career I am determined to give these new nurses and midwives the support they need to make it even better.

“We are investing and boosting our health workforce to improve health outcomes, it’s as simple as that.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“I want to extend a warm welcome to the graduates and thank them for choosing a rewarding career in the NSW public health system.

“This is exciting for many nurses and midwives starting their careers, and I also know these graduates starting will be a welcome support to the current workforce.”

Member for Strathfield Jason Yat-sen Li said:

“I am thrilled to see over 3,400 graduate nurses and midwives are starting their careers in NSW and I want to pass on my thanks for choosing such a rewarding career.

“The NSW Government is making important investments in our public health system and these graduates are a vital part of our focus on supporting our frontline health workers.”

Health’s Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer Jacqui Cross said:

“These graduates will have the opportunity to work in the multidisciplinary team alongside our experienced and highly skilled staff in one of the world’s best health systems.”

Find out more about careers in nursing and midwifery

Thirty-three couples will tie the knot under the world-famous sails of the Sydney Opera House this Valentine’s Day, in civil wedding ceremonies offered by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Starting at $1,299, the Registry’s Valentine’s Day weddings offer a cost-effective and novel way for couples to tie the knot, with the average Australian wedding costing $36,000.

The Sydney Opera House has been a popular choice among those seeking an intimate wedding setting, with around 80 ceremonies celebrated at the iconic venue since the Registry opened this line of packages in 2021.

The nuptials are hosted in the Sydney Opera House’s Yallamundi Room, which has views of Sydney Harbour, with a styled ceremony for up to 35 guests, a celebrant and wedding certificates.

Following Valentine’s Day, the Registry is also conducting several sold-out ceremonies at the Chinese Garden of Friendship, Sydney Zoo, Peppers Creek, The Old Clare, Vaucluse House, and Hyde Hacienda in Circular Quay.

Affordable civil wedding ceremonies offered by the Registry help couples celebrate their love as cost-of-living pressures continue to impact people across NSW.

The Registry is in the process of moving its central office to a new contemporary space in the heart of Sydney at Pyrmont Bay, with couples now able to book ceremonies for March.

Weddings held at the NSW Registry venue start for as little as $477 with a range of options available to build a couple’s dream day.

Couples interested in booking a Registry wedding can visit the NSW Registry and Births, Deaths and Marriages website.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“Cost-of-living pressures don’t have to get in the way of couples tying the knot, with the NSW Government offering ceremonies at a fraction of the price of a typical Australian wedding.”

“With options like the Sydney Opera House and Pyrmont Bay, couples don’t need to compromise on location either, while the novelty of a Registry wedding makes it a fun and exciting option.”

NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Registrar Theresa Fairman said:

“If you’re looking to celebrate your big day with a small ceremony then the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages has the perfect offering for simple and memorable experience.”

“Before you say “yes”, why not skip the stress and book in a cost-effective civil ceremony for you to enjoy with your nearest and dearest?”

The NSW Government has taken another step towards improving Aboriginal child safety and reforming the child protection system with the first meeting of the Ministerial Aboriginal Partnership Group (MAP Group).

The Government is partnering with Aboriginal stakeholders, leaders and community representatives as part of ongoing efforts to reform the NSW child protection system.

These reforms aim to reduce the unacceptably high number of Aboriginal children entering out-of-home care (OOHC) by supporting families and partnering with Aboriginal organisations to keep more kids safe.

The State Government and Aboriginal stakeholders agree that the existing child protection system isn’t working, with more than 14,000 children in OOHC across the state, 46% of whom are Aboriginal.

Members of the inaugural MAP Group met for the first time in Sydney yesterday on the 16th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, with discussions centred around reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in OOHC.

The group was formed following a landmark forum in August last year, where more than 100 Aboriginal community representatives proposed measures to reform the system.

Based on these conversations, the NSW Labor Government has committed to a number of actions to keep more children and young people safe, including:

• Establishing the new MAP Group with the Minister for Families and Communities, Aboriginal stakeholders and communities. The MAP Group will oversee reforms to the system and provide Aboriginal communities greater control of the future of their own children.
• Setting up a restoration taskforce, to support Aboriginal children who can safely go home to do so. This taskforce will oversee the expansion of restoration-focused work in partnership with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations across NSW.
• Formalising the leadership of Aboriginal people and communities in decisions concerning Aboriginal children and child protection.

These 3 measures have been agreed in accordance with the NSW Government’s Closing the Gap commitments.

The MAP Group will address critical issues outlined at the reform forum, with a particular focus on establishing governance and oversight to reduce the number of Aboriginal children needing to enter care, along with facilitating their return to families and communities, where safe to do so.

The NSW Government acknowledges that Aboriginal people must determine and drive desired outcomes, alongside and in partnership with government.

The meeting of the MAP Group will continue momentum of positive change for Aboriginal families, including last year’s commencement of provisions in the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Amendment (Family is Culture) Bill 2022. 

Under the changes the Department of Communities and Justice is required to present evidence to the Children’s Court to demonstrate that ‘Active Efforts’ were taken to keep families together, when it is safe to do so. This could include actively searching for extended family members who may be able to provide support or seeking out a culturally appropriate service to work with the family.

The MAP Group marks a crucial step in the ongoing effort to reform and enhance child safety and wellbeing for all communities in NSW. 

The MAP Group members include a cross-section of experienced Aboriginal child protection leaders, advocates and practitioners. AbSec and SNAICC were charged with creating an expression of interest (EOI) process that has seen the following appointments:

• John Leha (co-chair)
• BJ Newton
• Zoe De Re
• Dana Clarke
• Michael Newman
• Pamela Wells
• Paul Gray
• Heidi Bradshaw
• Cheryl Jackson
• Wendy Knight
• Lily Miles.

Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:

“The NSW Government is committed to reducing the over representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system, in partnership with Aboriginal leaders, stakeholders and communities.

“The establishment of the MAP Group will drive the reform process, oversee its implementation, and start changing the trajectory of outcomes for Aboriginal children.

“Status-quo is not an option. We have an opportunity to work across Government agencies and Aboriginal communities to improve the outcomes of Aboriginal children and their families.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“The current rates of Aboriginal kids in out-of-home care are not good enough.

“Reforming the system and putting Aboriginal children and communities at the heart of decision-making is essential to ensuring children know and connect with their family, culture, and community.

“The MAP Group and the restoration taskforce will play a vital role in Closing the Gap both through transforming government and empowering Aboriginal communities.”

CEO of AbSec and MAP Group co-chair John Leha said:

“This is a major step forward and it is fitting that it comes on the anniversary of the Apology. We are thrilled to be working hand-in-hand with the minister on this landmark reform partnership. It is gratifying to see that the Government has recognised that Aboriginal people and ACCOs know what their families and communities need.

“I accept the role of MAP Group co-chair with both pride and trepidation. It is a heavy responsibility that we now carry and we will be accountable to community. We need to make sure we do not simply create more of the same. We need to seize this opportunity to move further and faster away from the paternalistic and authoritarian history of the child protection system, to finally put Aboriginal people in control of our own destiny. Based on all the signs so far, I’m confident we will be able to.”

The NSW Government is investing $5.6 million in artificial intelligence (AI) to help reduce development application (DA) timeframes and deliver more housing.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is calling on industry to submit innovative existing and mature AI technology solutions to help reduce manual workloads for councils and to streamline the pre-lodgement phase.

Industry is invited to submit proposals from today until 11 March 2024.

Applications will be evaluated on how they address one or more priority focus areas, demonstrate low impact implementation, and align with the NSW AI Assurance Framework and AI Ethics Policy.

Successful suppliers will be asked to showcase products and share ideas with councils following the evaluation of applications.

DPHI will then confirm a list of suitable AI products and provide guidance for councils on how to engage with suppliers and select the best AI tools for the task.

Applicants have four weeks to prepare their responses, focusing on four priority areas to assist councils during the pre-lodgement DA phase.

These include:

• A pathways and requirements finder: To help prospective applicants identify site-specific development requirements to speed up their development process.
• Document self-assessment health check: To help applicants self-assess before lodging their DA. This aims to address any potential barriers or gaps in their documentation before they lodge.
• Risk-based triage: To help council staff quickly identify non-compliant elements within a submission so that the triage process is efficient and improves council’s productivity.
• Document assurance: To help council staff verify an applicant’s documentation to provide increased confidence in the quality of the material submitted.

The project is guided by six overarching principles including trust, transparency, customer benefit, fairness, privacy, and accountability.

DPHI has already worked with NSW councils to define the key challenges experienced during the pre-DA lodgement process.

More than 30 metro and regional councils have participated in workshops to date, with a focus on identifying existing AI products that can be easily implemented and used in the NSW planning system to reduce DA timeframes and deliver on the government’s priority of more housing faster.

Councils noted applicants need a simple and streamlined application process to access important information and what documentation is required for their site-specific DA.

Port Stephens Council and Wagga Wagga City Council are among the first group of enthusiastic councils to investigate how AI technologies could help enhance council DA processes.

Wagga Wagga Council Manager for Development Assessment & Building Certification Paul O’Brien said the introduction of AI will help get applications in the correct format so council isn’t going back and forth trying to clarify critical project information.

“For most of the regular clients they understand what needs to happen, however for occasional developers who might do it once or twice in their lifetime it’s very confusing and having an AI presence can help step them through it,” Mr O’Brien said.

Port Stephens Council Manager for Development and Compliance Evert Grobbelaar echoed the AI optimism, saying Council sees potential benefits to using AI in the pre-DA lodgement process, for improved application quality, reduced DA processing timeframes, and education opportunities for the community and landowners on the lodgement process.

For more information visit, the NSW Planning website.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Councils are responsible for determining approximately 85 percent of all new dwellings in NSW.

“Introducing more AI features into our planning system is about working smarter so that councils can assess DAs faster, which helps to build more homes where they are needed most.

“Using AI tools will help us cut down DA assessment times, saving proponents, councils, developers and taxpayers valuable time and money.

“AI won’t replace our highly skilled planners at the core of the planning system, but it will free them up from repetitive daily tasks so that they can focus on more complex DAs.

“The Department is also trialling AI tools such as chatbots and automated document processing to support triage queries and enhance response times for the Planning Portal.”

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The Opposition has called on the Minns Labor Government to provide greater transparency over the evolving asbestos contamination saga which has impacted schools, hospitals, transport hubs and other community sites.
 
Shadow Environment Minister Kellie Sloane says a central register, accessible to the public, should be provided by the EPA which lists all sites under investigation and the status of those investigations.
 
“The public has a right to know if playgrounds and public spaces in their suburbs are under investigation for asbestos contamination. The first time people hear about a contaminated site shouldn’t be when fences are going up or the media reports it.
 
“This register should inform the public in real time and give them the assurance to go about their daily lives. People deserve transparency while the regulators go about their important work of uncovering contaminated sites.”
 
Ms Sloane has also called for clear a minimum set of standards to be communicated with councils around practical public safety measures such as the urgency of fencing off contaminated sites.
 
“The drip-feeding of bad news needs to stop, and the Minns Labor Government needs to be clear with us the real extent of this issue and how it’s handling concerns about public health and safety.”

“Representatives of the Minister offered me a briefing on the TOD SEPP “in lieu of” moving a call for papers in the Legislative Council on the rationale behind the Government’s selection of eight TOD accelerated precincts and the 31 TOD precincts. This is all in writing.”
 
“I proceeded to move a successful call for papers in Parliament, which evidently got under the Government’s skin, as communities across New South Wales want to ensure that the locations “have the capacity to support additional growth” as the Government has claimed.
 
“The only information that the Minns Labor Government has provided to the public on one of the largest rezonings in Australia’s history is a 12-page glossy document. This rezoning is due to come into place on 1 April with no opportunity for proper community consultation.”
 
“When it comes to council’s role in refusing developments in their area, the Minister, like Chris Minns, is wrong again.”
 
“Firstly, the questions to Chris Minns this morning related to the Government’s changes to create low and mid-rise housing, not even the TOD SEPP, so the Minister can’t even get his own policies right.”
 
“The Government’s Explanation of Intended Effect: Changes to create low-and mid-rise housing makes it clear that the Government will set “non-refusal standards”, which will “overrule LEP or DCP provisions”.
 
“This will mean that Councils will have no choice but to approve relevant residential flat buildings, manor houses, terraces and duplexes in areas where the Minns Labor Government makes them permissible, on the grounds of maximum building height, floor space ratio, minimum site area, minimum lot width, minimum car parking, tree canopy, deep soil and tree planting rates.”
 
“It’s no wonder that Chris Minns and Minister for Planning have Labor Mayors from Burwood to the Blue Mountains up in arms and Labor backbenchers starting to revolt against Government’s plans.”
 
“Rather than telling communities to “get out of the way” it’s time that the Government listened to what the Opposition has said from the beginning and work with local communities to set housing targets, allow communities to formulate their local controls, and if they refuse to do so that’s the appropriate time to impose local planning controls – not at the beginning.”

Following media reports of the resignation of Kieran Ash, a former Department Liaison Officer who was under active investigation for a possible breach of his employment obligations while working in Minister Haylen’s office, the NSW Opposition contends this matter is yet to be concluded.

Documents provided to Parliament last week show Mr Ash drafted and (from his ministerial office email) sent speeches to Ms Haylen’s personal email that contained pro-Labor political language that was critical of the previous Liberal Government and worked alongside the Premier’s office to design and distribute Labor Party political brochures.

Mr Ash as a public servant was forbidden from doing pro-Labor Party political activity while in Ms Haylen’s office.

When asked repeatedly about her knowledge and participation in the staffer-rorts scandal, Ms Haylen stated under oath:

“I understand that, but the work that I engaged with this relatively junior public servant on was policy based and was in line with his responsibilities as a public servant advising government on the areas that he was working on.”[1]

These documents show this was untrue, with the curious timing of Mr Ash’s resignation only 24 hours after the Opposition raised this matter in Parliament raises further questions.

Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward commented:

“How many more people will be thrown under the bus to protect Minister Haylen.”

“The Minister first lost her chief of staff and now Mr Ash has resigned before the investigation could conclude – all key parts of this Government’s cover up.”

“The Parliamentary inquiry into this affair still needs to take place and it is the intention of the Opposition to call Minister Haylen, Mr Ash and Mr Gartrell among other witnesses.”

“I would expect the Government to support Mr Gartrell and Mr Ash as witnesses, considering they both have resigned under curious circumstances and are no longer public servants.”