Category: NSW News

Students, families and teachers will gather in Western Sydney to celebrate today as 128 students from 89 schools are awarded for achieving first or equal first place in a 2023 HSC course.

Among those top performers are 59 students from 37 NSW public schools, who achieved First in Course for HSC courses including Biology, Chemistry, Business Studies, Society and Culture, and English Extension 2.

The annual First in Course ceremony this year brings together a diverse group of students from areas including Orange and Albury in the state’s central west, Lismore and Coffs Harbour in northern NSW, Wollongong in the Illawarra and Newcastle in the Hunter, and Sydney including Strathfield, Cabramatta, Liverpool, the Eastern Suburbs, Auburn, the North Shore and Campbelltown.

Some 136 awards will be handed out to 128 students from across the three sectors today, with six students topping more than one course and 28 students achieving equal first place, as the ceremony gets under way in Parramatta.

Five students have topped the state for an English course and 18 achieved first place positions for a Mathematics course, including 12 students who shared top marks in the state for Mathematics Standard 2.

Six students topped the state for Creative Arts courses including Music, Drama, Visual Arts or Dance and 10 received top results for Science courses including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Environmental Science, and Science Extension.

Twelve students achieved top marks in vocational education courses, including Tourism, Travel and Events, and Automotive, Construction and Hospitality and Financial Services.

All Round Achievers, Top Achievers and Distinguished Achievers will be published on the NESA website at midday tomorrow.

All 67,234 students will receive their results by SMS, email and online from 6am tomorrow.

The community are welcome to join in and watch the First In course celebrations online via the NESA website from 1pm today.

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

“Congratulations to every HSC student who has excelled in 2023, achieving a First In Course mark.

“Our First in Course students should feel proud of the dedication they have shown and the skill they have displayed throughout this year.

“Reaching a First In Course mark is a fantastic achievement, and I hope all our students can take time to celebrate their work over the summer break.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“I am delighted to share in the excitement and congratulate not only those who have achieved First in Course in VET subjects, but all our graduating students who have completed a vocational course as part of their HSC.

“Celebrating these talented students reinforces Labor’s commitment to rebuilding our VET system to ensure it can deliver the skilled workforce we need for a prosperous future.

“I would encourage all students embarking on their post-school journey to explore the wealth of options available, including apprenticeships, traineeships and TAFE.”

CEO of the NSW Education Standards Authority Paul Martin said:

“Topping an HSC course is no small feat and one that deserves celebration.

“It brings me great pride and satisfaction to see young people excelling in such a diverse range of subjects – from English and Mathematics to Languages. Construction and Automotive – to Physics and Biology.

“The HSC has something for everyone to follow their passions and future goals – and you never know where that may take you.”

The Minns Government is delivering on our commitment to protect our multifaith community. Faith groups can now apply for a share of $15 million to upgrade safety and security at their places of worship thanks to the NSW Government’s Safe Places for Faith Communities Grants Program.

Under the program, grants of between $5000 and $250,000 will be available for eligible groups to protect important sites where they gather, improve risk mitigation and build the social cohesion and resilience of faith groups.

Funding can be used anywhere in NSW at eligible faith-based centres including places of worship, seminaries, religious museums, religious community centres, religious retreats and places of religious significance, including shrines, faith-based cemeteries or memorials.

This program has been developed in collaboration with key government and faith stakeholders, as well as the NSW Community and Resilience and Response Plan (COMPLAN) Committee.

Successful grants recipients will also have the opportunity to join a Community of Practice to share knowledge with other faith groups and participate in workshops and information sessions aimed at fostering interfaith collaboration on community safety and wellbeing. 

Find further information about the Safe Places for Faith Communities Grants Program and to register for an Information Sessionlaunch.

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“It’s important that all faith groups across NSW feel they can practice their beliefs in safe space. Especially during times of conflict, everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their place of worship.”

“NSW is the most successful multicultural and multifaith state in the world. This is a great point of pride, but it is also something that must be actively protected.”

“This program delivers on our election commitment to our multifaith community and has been designed to promote community wellbeing and resilience, as well as interfaith harmony and social cohesion.”

“We need to make sure that everyone, no matter their beliefs, feels safe in this state. We will continue to work with our multifaith communities to ensure this promise is felt.”

The NSW Government is delivering on a key election promise, charging ahead with a new program delivering free, convenient phone chargers at Sydney train stations, with the first stand now switched on at Liverpool.

Designed and built in Sydney for Transport for NSW, the charging stands offer a mix of wireless, USB-A and UBC -C options, and can provide power to 7 devices at once.

The $1 million Power Spots Project will see the stands rolled out at 15 key transport hubs. The first has been unveiled and switched on at Liverpool Station, followed by Campbelltown later this week.

Power spots will be installed at Bankstown, Hurstville, Lidcombe, Penrith and Wynyard, while larger stations including Central, Town Hall and Bondi Junction will get 2 per site. All power spots will be up and running at 15 transport hubs across Sydney by late 2024.

Where possible, power spots will be installed outside ticketed areas to ensure they are accessible to anyone in the community 24/7.

Liverpool Station’s power spot is outside the pay gates on the concourse, opposite the entrance ramp to Bus Stands A to C. It is free to access and use for anyone who needs it, including people travelling to and from the nearby hospital, schools and TAFE.

Station staff have worked closely with the project team to choose sites across the network that have high foot traffic, are easy to find, well-lit and monitored by CCTV.

Electricity use at each power spot will be monitored and the data analysed to help understand the popularity of different wireless and USB charging solutions, and the average time people spend using them.

The Power Spots Program is funded through the Transport Access Program (TAP). Since the TAP started, the NSW Government has committed more than $2.2 billion to upgrades, with more than 520 projects either completed or currently underway across NSW.

Find out more about the Transport Access Programlaunch.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“Our power spots are giving power to the people – providing peace of mind and a sense of security when they need it most.

“Sydney is a world-class city and it should have world-class public transport infrastructure, so I’m delighted to make people’s lives a little easier with this common-sense addition.

“We’re delivering on our key election promise for the people of NSW, with an investment we know will make life easier and safer for millions of public transport passengers.

“In the modern world, our phones are our lifelines. They act not only to keep us connected, but as our wallets, maps, travel passes, and staying informed and entertained, so this is a no-brainer.

“Initially there will be 18 power spots at 15 locations across the network, which offer fast, free, convenient charging that supports all types of phones, with the aim of increasing that number at more locations.”

Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda said:

“It’s great to see that the Minns Labor government is delivering for the people of Liverpool. Installing charging stations at train stations is a great common-sense policy.

“A powered-up mobile offers a real sense of safety and security for students, parents, and people riding on our trains at night.

“This is going to be especially convenient for all the students who travel to our local schools, our university campuses, our TAFE campus, and to the many people who use the train to get to Liverpool Hospital.”

Transport for NSW Executive Director Rachel Simpson said:

“A flat phone can leave you feeling stranded. So many of us feel anxious when our phones are running low and rush to make a call, asking someone to come and pick us up.

“Pulling up a map or public transport timetable in the palm of your hand can be the difference between confidently getting to your destination on time or not.

“If your device can charge wirelessly, you can simply roll up and power up, and there are USB-A as well as USB-C ports on offer for those who need a charging cable.”

New South Wales needs a Premier who will fight for it, rather than surrendering key decisions to Canberra.
 
Chris Minns has now repeatedly failed to stand up to the Albanese Labor Government, leaving the fate of our infrastructure projects and population growth up to the federal government.
 
We still don’t know the fate of major infrastructure projects across the state that have had their federal funding pulled by the Albanese Government, because Chris Minns has not told us if he plans to cancel them or will seek to find funding from other programs.
 
It’s disappointing Chris Minns has ignored the opportunity to work with the Opposition on advocating for a better targeted and more sustainable immigration program that serves NSW needs and eases pressure on our housing and infrastructure – rather than piling on additional pressure.
 
Chris Minns could have fought for our communities and their needs, but instead he has failed to stand up to Canberra, leaving the NSW Opposition to call for migration to be reined in. The NSW Opposition called for a migration slowdown which would reduce pressure on rents and improve access to home ownership. We await the details of how far Anthony Albanese has heeded these calls, but Chris Minns has failed to do so.
 
Immigration has enriched our society and strengthened economic growth, but our current record pace is vastly outstripping our ability to keep up with housing supply, which is leading to record rents and record unaffordability for home buyers.
 
To ensure that these challenges are not left in the too hard basket, our state needs a Premier who will put NSW first.

The NSW government must urgently build more social housing and fully fund homelessness services after new statistics showed homelessness remaining shockingly high.

Data released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showed 68,400 people used homelessness services in NSW in the most recent financial year.

Demand was so high that less than half (49%) of people who needed emergency accommodation were able to receive it. 

Only 21% of people needing long term accommodation were helped.

“This situation is shocking, heartbreaking and simply should not be happening in a state as wealthy as New South Wales,” said Homelessness NSW CEO Dom Rowe.

“Homelessness services are so stretched they are having to turn away one in two people who knock on their doors. And there are many more people who don’t ask for help at all.

“Frontline services do the best they can to keep people housed, but there are not enough homes and inadequate funding to keep up with demand. 

“This Christmas there will be women and children experiencing domestic violence who are forced to choose between homelessness or remaining in an unsafe home.

“The government could easily solve this by investing just an extra $152 million a year into homelessness services so they can meet demand. 

“It must also urgently build more social housing which is at historically low levels. This will provide stable homes to people in need, take heat out of the private rental market and ease pressure on our schools, hospitals and community services over the long term.” 

The latest AIHW stats revealed:

	2022/23	2021/22 (for comparison)
Total # people who were supported by SHS	68,400	68,500
Main reasons for seeking assistance:1. Housing crisis2. Financial difficulties3. Family and domestic violence	1. 40%2. 38%3. 35%	1. 40%2. 36%3. 35%
People who were homeless when they first presented for support (as opposed to people at risk of homelessness)	50%	47%
Clients’ housing situation when they first presented1. No shelter or improvised/inadequate dwelling (‘sleeping rough’)2. Short-term temporary accommodation3. Couch surfing	1. 7.8% 2. 22%3. 15.3%	1. 6.7% 2. 21.9%3.14.6%
% of SHS clients who were Indigenous	32%	32%
Unmet need for (% of people who needed help but couldn’t get it):1. short-term/emergency accommodation2. medium-term/transitional3. long-term	1. 51% 2. 64%3. 79%	1. 53% 2. 65%3. 77%
Supported to maintain housing (ie. where people were at risk of, but not yet homeless)	90%	90%

The state’s newest hydrogen bus will enter service in the Illawarra on Monday as it starts doing the rounds on Wollongong’s popular free Gong Shuttle loop.

The bus will start its six-month trial on the Gong loop, before being trialled on a number of other routes throughout the Illawarra to test its capabilities. 

Data collected from the bus trial will be used by Transport to make decisions about the best electric and hydrogen technology for our regional bus operators, passengers, and communities. 

Built by ARCC in Western Sydney, the bus can drive for 16 hours and cover 515km on just 32kg of Hydrogen.  A similar diesel bus would consume 170 litres of diesel to travel the same distance. 

The bus will be refuelled at the Coregas hydrogen refuelling station at the Port Kembla Hydrogen Hub. 

The bus will be operated by Premier Illawarra and will cover existing routes in line with existing timetables. 

It follows a hydrogen bus trial on the Central Coast where the bus outperformed expectations on the road.

More information about Zero Emission Buseslaunch

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said: 

“We’re committed to transitioning the state’s fleet of 8,000 diesel and gas buses on our public transport network to zero emissions technology. That means rolling out electric buses onto roads in Sydney and Newcastle, and trialling technology like hydrogen buses in other parts of the state. 

“It is great to see this new hydrogen bus roll out here today in Wollongong. 

“It will provide Transport for NSW with important data needed to inform any future roll-out of Hydrogen technology on our bus and transport networks.” 

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:

“The fare-free Gong Shuttle Loop is one of the most popular routes in NSW.

“This Hydrogen bus trial will give passengers a unique opportunity to experience a greener, quieter, and more comfortable journey on the loop between Wollongong station and the university.

“Illawarra is well placed to play an important role in the new clean energy economy which will bring significant economic and social value for the community. 

“We’re looking to the future and supporting the creation of local jobs and opportunities in this growing region.”

Member for Wollongon Paul Scully said:

“I have been advocating for the Gong Shuttle and Illawarra bus routes to be used for a trial to power buses with hydrogen for years. 

“Transport is a way that we can help develop both the supply and demand for hydrogen in the region as it is looked at as a cleaner, greener industrial fuel source in the future.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

“It’s exciting to see zero emission bus trials making their way out of Central Sydney, into the Central Coast, now Wollongong and in the future, more regional centres across NSW.

“This demonstration will help Transport for NSW better understand how hydrogen buses perform in the Gong and what infrastructure is needed to then roll them out in more corners of our state.”

John King, Director, Premier Transport Group said:

“Premier Illawarra is proud to collaborate with bus manufacturer ARCC and Transport for NSW on this innovative demonstration, and give our local passengers a cleaner, greener journey on the Illawarra bus network.

“The convenience of the local Port Kembla Hydrogen Hub gives us a unique opportunity in the Illawarra to lead the way in reducing carbon emissions across our services.

“We’re thrilled to play our part and cultivate strong partnerships between local manufacturers like ARCC, bus operators, and the NSW Government for the benefit of our communities and passengers.”

The Minns Labor government has confirmed the new Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital will be located at the TAFE campus in Bankstown’s CBD, delivering a brand new hospital to Western Sydney residents.

The location provides convenient access to public transport links for patients, staff and visitors, including bus, rail and the future metro.

It also provides opportunities for future expansion for research and education to create a new ‘health neighbourhood’ for integrated health care.

The Canterbury-Bankstown local government area is expected to grow by about 20% to nearly half-a-million people by 2036.

To meet the health needs of the rapidly growing community, the NSW Government has committed $1.3 billion for the planned hospital as part of its 2023-2024 budget.

The scope for the hospital will be determined through the planning process which will take place in 2024 in consultation with staff, clinicians and patients.

Services are expected to include: 

• expanded emergency services
• intensive care
• surgery and interventional procedures
• women’s and Children’s Health
• rehabilitation
• aged health
• mental health
• cancer services
• ambulatory care services

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

The new hospital will integrate with the existing hospital site to allow contemporary models of care and deliver an improved healthcare experience.

This investment in a new and upgraded hospital for Bankstown and Lidcombe is possible because the Minns Labor government is making responsible decisions to repair the budget and reprioritise spending on essential services.

The Minns Labor government is setting out a long-term plan to repair the budget so we can deliver essential healthcare services for families across the state, reduce waiting times and improving access to timely, high-quality healthcare.

Health Minister Ryan Park said:

“We were elected with a clear mandate to rebuild essential services and are getting on with the job to deliver South Western Sydney communities a new state-of-the-art hospital.

“The new hospital will significantly enhance healthcare in Bankstown and surrounding areas and ensure people can access the care they need, closer to home.

“We are ensuring that growing communities receive the health infrastructure they need and deserve.

“Everyone should be able to access world class health care where they need it.

“Expanding the capacity of health infrastructure in growing communities right here in South Western Sydney is critical to improving wait times and access to care.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“The NSW Government is committed to maintaining a strong TAFE NSW presence in Bankstown.

“During the planning phase of this project, TAFE NSW will work in partnership with NSW Health to plan co-location opportunities for TAFE NSW at the new hospital site.

“This will ensure TAFE NSW is well positioned to meet the learning needs of the local community, improve educational outcomes, and support the state’s priority skills needs.

“Consulting with employees and students about temporary relocation options will ensure the development of the new hospital causes as little disruption as possible to learners.  

“There is sufficient space within the Bankstown CBD to accommodate TAFE NSW’s temporary  relocation.”

Member for Bankstown Jihad Dib said:

“The population of Canterbury-Bankstown will grow to over half a million people by 2036.

“Today’s  commitment to build a brand new state-of-the-art hospital ensures that our community has the health facilities it needs.”

Member for East Hills Kylie Wilkinson said:

“This is a win-win for the community with health services to remain on the existing site and a brand-new hospital with significantly improved health services.

“This is a long overdue announcement that the community has waited a long time for.”

Member for Auburn Lynda Voltz said:

“It has been a decade-long wait, but it is good to see our new state government getting cracking on a new Bankstown Hospital. 

“So many residents rely on an accessible public hospital, and this addition to our local health services, close to public transport in the Bankstown CBD, delivers in spades.”

The iconic Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink will get a major upgrade and restoration with the NSW Government executing a grant for $17.7 fmillion to ensuring the training ground for many Australian Winter Olympians will remain for many decades to come.

Funded through the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program, the Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink Roof and Amenities Upgrade Project will deliver:

• a new roof structure
• new change rooms
• a concrete new modern ice floor and barrier system
• new skate hire facilities
• upgraded spectator seating areas. 

The Canterbury Ice Rink has served as the home for more than 20 Olympic ice skaters, including short track Olympic gold medallist, Steven Bradbury, 2014 Ice Dance Olympians Danielle O’Brien and Greg Merriman, and Australia’s first indigenous Winter Olympics athlete, Harley Windsor.

The upgrades that are being undertaken will ensure this Western Sydney institution is one of the best ice rinks in Australia and provide the next generation of Olympic hopefuls with the facilities to fulfil their dreams. Over 120,000 visitors per year are expected to utilise the facility.

The government will now work with The Ice-Skating Club of NSW to deliver this much needed upgrade, with construction to commence in late-2024.

The NSW Government is committed to delivering transformation infrastructure across Western Sydney and south-west Sydney through the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program.

Funding 191 projects through the $2 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program will help secure the best quality of life for families and communities across Western Sydney.

Steve Kamper, Minister for Sport said:

“We’re excited to restore this fantastic facility so it can serve as a rink for the Canterbury community for many years to come.

“This funding will get thousands of athletes performing incredible feats and scoring goals, while allowing patrons young and old a fantastic opportunity to learn to skate.

“This much-loved ice rink will allow The Ice-Skating Club of NSW to partner with state and national bodies in figure skating and ice hockey to host events at the state, national and international level.”

Sophie Cotsis, Member for Canterbury said:

“The project will deliver huge benefits, including local jobs, programs for local school students, as well as an inclusive skating program for skaters with intellectual and physical disabilities.

“Since the closure of the facility, skaters from the area have been travelling hours across Sydney, even to Canberra of a weekend, to train. Come mid-2026 this will no longer be the case, with this wonderful facility back up-and-running in our own backyard.”

“This is huge win, a big congratulations to our community for this hard-fought achievement”.

Jason Yat-Sen Li, Member for Strathfield said:

“Canterbury Ice Rink is an important, greatly loved facility for residents in my community, including local schools, skaters and ice-hockey players, and those who just want to have fun on the ice. It is also a facility that has given those who experience mental or physical challenges a place where they can be themselves. We are delighted to be able to save this critical piece of sport and community infrastructure.”

Get more information about the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program.

The Minns Labor government is today announcing an enhanced Sydney Metro West project will be delivered, with the potential addition of new stations to help drive new housing supply.

The government is moving to link the construction of major new transport infrastructure in Sydney to major new housing uplift, and this focus will underpin Metro West.

It’s why the NSW Government has also directed Sydney Metro to work on increasing the delivery of new housing supply along the Metro West alignment, to support the government’s plan to build more well-located homes near new and existing transport infrastructure.

If we are going to tackle this crisis, to create more housing supply that will drive down the cost of renting or buying a home, our city is going to have to change.

We need well-located houses and apartments near well-connected transport infrastructure, so people have a place to call home, where they can move around our city easier. Metro West is the beginning of this.

More sustainable timeline to be adopted following Sydney Metro Review

The project will be reset to a more sustainable timeline, with the project expected to be completed by 2032.

The additional construction time means taxpayers will not be paying a premium to deliver the project and will provide the necessary timeframe to explore additional station and housing options.

The previous government left a 7-kilometre gap between Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta metro stations.

To continue this project without maximising its potential to underpin the construction of thousands of new homes would have been an incredibly wasteful missed opportunity.

To that end, the NSW Government has directed Sydney Metro to complete scoping studies for up to 2 new stations to be constructed west of Sydney Olympic Park, along the existing planned route, with a decision made based on their ability to drive greater urban infill housing.

The announcement today has been endorsed by the recommendations of the Sydney Metro Independent Review.

Independent reviewers Amanda Yeates and Mike Mrdak have concluded their thorough analysis of the Sydney Metro project. Their findings include:

• The government should commit to the current 9 station alignment of Sydney Metro West at a minimum, targeting an opening date of 2032. The reviewers made a point of noting the “arbitrary” nature of the previously announced delivery date determined by the former government.
• Ensure the current design and construction plans do not preclude additional stations from being considered as station locations in future.
• That Sydney Metro to provide a consolidated property and placemaking strategy across all existing lines to support the government’s priorities regarding housing supply.
• That a business case should be prepared to improve bus and active transport connections to broaden the catchment of the existing alignment.

Sydney Metro West will ensure tens of thousands of people will be able to live next to a ‘turn up and go’ service that connects them to their jobs, their services and their communities with a train every 4 minutes.

Sydney Metro will move to shortlist delivery partners and develop a procurement model that provides opportunities to get the most housing and the best return from this significant investment for the people of NSW.

MOU with the Australian Turf Club on Rosehill Racecourse

The critical need to deliver housing in well located areas, along transport links means the Minns Labor government has commenced discussions with the Australian Turf Club (ATC) on a proposal to relocate Rosehill Racecourse and build up to 25,000 new homes, surrounded by greenspace and a new Sydney Metro West station.

The proposal, which was brought to the NSW Government by the ATC, centres around the potential to build more than 25,000 new homes on the Rosehill Racecourse site. This would allow the government to explore the feasibilty of a new Metro West Station at Rosehill.

The plan will secure the long-term future of horse racing in NSW and the 90,000 jobs it supports with several sites across Sydney to be earmarked and investigated for a new, world-class racecourse track and facilities.

The NSW Government and the ATC have signed an MOU on the potentially historic plan, which would be subject to the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

Read more about the MOU.

Enhancing transport links and boosting housing across the Sydney Metro West project

The Minns Labor government is today also announcing further work will also be considered to broaden the catchment of all Metro West stations with enhanced land transport links, like rapid buses to ensure that more communities will be able to benefit from this once-in-a-generation investment.

Sydney Metro has been tasked with preparing a rapid assessment to create new bus connections to broaden the catchment of the existing alignment.

This work will be subject to a future NSW Government investment decision, which would seek to have this infrastructure and services operational in time for first passenger services on Metro West.

The government will use the already legislated Housing and Productivity Contributions system to ensure some of the value created by government investments will fund future infrastructure.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“Sydney Metro West is the biggest public transport project in the country. But we’re resetting Metro West to ensure it will be the city-shaping project it always should have been.

“This project won’t just change the way people move around our city; it will now also provide the well-located homes for future generations to live in.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“Our review into Metro projects delivers Sydney an improved version of Metro West. It’s a new project for the whole of Sydney, building more housing and doubling rail capacity between the Parramatta and Sydney CBDs.

“It won’t just mean a new metro service, it means better train services for Western Sydney too, including in the outer west and Blue Mountains on the T1 Western line.

“Metro West will also cut crowding by 30% at stations like Strathfield, Redfern and Burwood.”

Sydney Metro Chief Executive Peter Regan said:

“Sydney Metro West has made great progress this year, with 4 out of 6 tunnel boring machines in the ground building our new 24-kilometre metro line from Westmead to the Sydney CBD.

“We welcome the findings of the Sydney Metro Independent Review and the certainty they provide to our hard-working teams across Western Sydney delivering Australia’s biggest public transport project.”

Incidents involving overheight trucks have dropped to their lowest level since 2017 as the NSW Government continues to work with truckies and their industry to reduce traffic-clogging breaches in the Sydney tunnel network.

There have been 107 overheight trucks incidents in 2023 so far this year, down from a high last year of 161.

In 2023, detections peaked in June but have trended down since the Minns Labor Government introduced a zero-tolerance approach which included six-month registration bans for offending trucks and the establishment of an industry-wide overheight vehicle taskforce led by Transport for NSW.

Under a deal with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator in June, all incidents of overheight breaches in tunnels are now being referred straight to Transport for sanction.

There were four overheight incidents recorded in November this year, compared to 25 in November 2022.

The Sydney Harbour Tunnel, which is impacted by the most overheight breaches, has recorded a 22% decrease this year. The M5 East Tunnel has also seen a 65% reduction in incidents and a nearly 43% decrease has been noted at the Lane Cove Tunnel.

This year, Transport for NSW has stripped 19 heavy vehicles of their registration, taking them off our roads for up to six months, and a further 21 drivers have had their licence suspended.

An investment of $5 million has been invested in infrastructure and improving the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. Improved signage was installed and 31 advertising billboards erected.

More information on the driving safely through Sydney’s tunnelslaunch

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“The NSW Government was firm in its commitment to stopping overheight trucks shutting down our city and the efforts of Transport for NSW and the industry taskforce has begun to pay off in a busy time of the year for freight.

“Incidents are dramatically down in November with just four breaches recorded but we cannot and will not claim the job is done as it still only takes one overheight incident to ruin the day of driver’s all over Sydney.

“The vast majority of truckies and operators do the right thing, but the public have no patience for any unnecessary incidents involving overheight trucks.

“I want to thank Duncan Gay and his team at NHVR, all the taskforce participants, including, Transport, NSW Police Force, Road Freight NSW and the TWU, for their collaboration and contributions to drive this positive change on our roads.”

Chairperson of National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Duncan Gay said:

“To ensure drivers are adhering to the safety measures that keep themselves, their load, and other road users safe, we inform, educate, and where necessary, enforce the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

“Our working relationships are key in the management of overheight incidents across the Sydney tunnel network, essentially involving the coordinated actions of four parties – the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), the NSW Police Force, Motorway Tunnel operators and managers and Transport for NSW.

“The efforts include educating industry through advertising on social media, online, radio and through key trucking channels, developing a brochure which was translated into three languages for NHVR Safety and Compliance officers to hand out at Heavy Vehicle Safety Stations, and investigating other parties in the Chain of Responsibility that may have been contributing to these incidents.

“The NHVR has undertaken 21 Chain of Responsibility investigations into breaches of over height trucks, and these involved investigating the companies that have trucks that breached or nearly breached the tunnel regulations, resulting in four Improvement Notices, to ensure better safety outcomes across the industry.”