16 News

The Minns Labor Government is moving ahead with plans to improve management and maintenance of NSW roads by developing a new system for roads to be recategorised and run by appropriate authorities.

A proposed new system developed by Transport for NSW aims to make it easier for road managers such as councils to access data about road usage and function in a transparent way so it can be used to help make evidence-based decisions about who should have responsibility for roads.

Historically there has been an ad-hoc approach to road recategorisation requests and decision-making in NSW, with no clear framework in place for road managers to understand how their roads are being used and which categories of State, Regional or Local roads they best fit into.

Until now, road managers have also had to wait years or decades for ad-hoc reviews of road category change requests.

The new process proposed by the Government is designed to be managed within existing budget and resourcing parameters, while ensuring roads are categorised appropriately based on evidence.

This involves deploying a clearer, easier and more streamlined system for road managers, mainly councils, to propose recategorisations of roads.

One key benefit of the new system will be the introduction of an online portal which will provide road managers with a one-stop-shop of relevant data such as maps, freight routes and key infrastructure such as hospitals, to help them understand who is best placed to manage relevant roads.

Regardless of who manages a road, the proposed new system has been established to enable managers, such as councils, to evaluate their own networks, put forward robust proposals and have them assessed in a timely manner.

Importantly, there will be an ‘always open’ approach for applications, meaning road managers will be able to submit proposals for road category changes at any time.

Overall, it will be a more straightforward and transparent process for identifying, processing and implementing road category changes.

Transport for NSW is now seeking feedback and collaboration from road managers to ensure that this new approach is sound and provides the transparent solution needed.

New guidance notes to outline the process and other key considerations have now been released to road managers for review and feedback ahead of further consultation in 2025.

For more information, visit NSW Road reviews.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Minns Labor Government has heard the concerns of road managers and understands a better system is needed to manage responsibility of roads in NSW.

“The NSW road network is more than 185,000 kilometres long and much of that in regional NSW so the changes proposed aim to deliver better roads management for our regional communities in particular.

“Councils manage over 85 per cent of this network and our government is committed to collaborating with them on an improved new system.

“I encourage councils and all road managers to have their say as we need to make this fit for purpose and their feedback is a key part to ensuring we get this right.

“The former Liberal and National Government made promises to councils it couldn’t deliver.

“Under the former government’s road classification review they promised councils the state government would take responsibility for up to 15,000 kilometres of council roads. That never happened and the final review report was never released to the public.

“By contrast we promised to release a proposed business-as-usual approach to road recategorisation by the end of the year and we’re delivering.

“We’re not promising the world and delivering very little, instead we’re promising a better approach that has evidence at its core and promotes transparent decision making to ensure the right responsibilities are sitting with the right road managers.

“We are now moving forward with plans to develop a fairer, more transparent evidence-based and sustainable business-as-usual approach to road recategorisation that will benefit all road users.

“It’s all about ensuring the NSW road network is fit for purpose and that roads across the state are correctly categorised as State, Regional, or Local, so they are maintained by the appropriate road manager.”

The new Lost City Walking Track is now open in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA), providing visitors with another great option to get out and explore the Lithgow region these summer holidays. The track is part of the $2.3 million Lost City Visitor Precinct project.

The 6km family-friendly walking track takes visitors on a memorable journey through pagoda rock formations and heritage sites, set against a backdrop of panoramic views.

Covering clifftop tracks, intricate creek crossings and diverse landscapes, the Lost City Walking Track is a moderate Grade 3 walk with an optional Grade 4 loop via the Miners Pass Link Track. This historic route features hand-carved steps once used by miners to access a valley mine shaft, offering a unique glimpse into the area’s mining heritage.

The track’s construction took 18 months and carefully balanced natural, cultural and heritage considerations while enhancing visitor access. The track is complemented by the Lost City Lookout, a new picnic and viewing area overlooking the iconic pagoda skyline.

The Lost City Walking Track is the first major visitor project as part of the $49.5 million Gardens of Stone SCA infrastructure establishment package.

The Lost City Visitor Precinct will be opened to the public in stages over the coming months. Works will continue on roads, lookouts and carparks after the school holidays.

Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and check NPWS visitor alerts before travel.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe:

“The Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area is an area of profound beauty which will become more accessible to families and casual bushwalkers over the coming years thanks to the visitor infrastructure program.

“New facilities like the Lost City Walking Track will help showcase iconic landscapes while preserving environmental and heritage values which are unique to the area.

“This is an example of conservation in action and sets the tone for what’s to come in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, including new walking tracks, camping areas and recreational activities to encourage more people to get outdoors and enjoy nature.” 

In the early hours of December 20^th, 109 years ago, the guns fell silent in the ANZAC Sector at Gallipoli.

On this day in 1915, after nearly nine months of fighting, the last of the ANZAC troops evacuated with heavy hearts.

The Turkish forces were relieved that there would be no more fighting, that they could mourn many thousands who perished defending their homeland and that peace had finally prevailed at Gallipoli.

A commemorative service is taking place at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park Sydney at 12 noon today – 4am in Gallipoli, the time the last boat rowed away from ANZAC Cove.

More than 60,000 Australians served at Gallipoli during the eight-month campaign, 8,700 lost their lives and 18,000 were wounded.

There are 33 Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in Türkiye, 21 are in the Anzac area and the major cemeteries include Lone Pine, Shrapnel Valley, Ari Burnu, the Beach, and Shell Green. To this day there are more than 7,200 Australians buried in cemeteries in Türkiye or listed as missing in Gallipoli.

Minister for Veterans David Harris said:

“Today is a significant day for Australian military history. We acknowledge the 109th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign which saw the withdrawal of the last of the ANZAC troops on 20 December 1915.

“The Gallipoli campaign holds a special place in mine and my family’s heart as my great great uncle Lieutenant Duncan Chapman was the first man to step ashore at Gallipoli in 1915.

“Today is an opportunity for us all to remember the service and sacrifice of our veterans who participated in this campaign 109 years ago.

“It is important that we continue to commemorate this day to ensure that the legacy of our veterans lives on for generations.”

The Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) has been formally established by the Minns Labor Government.

Following consultation, the Minns Labor Government has established the criteria for the Expression of Interest (EOI) for the HDA, as well as the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARS) for successful proposals.

The EOI criteria and SEARs will make sure that projects that access this new state-led approval pathway are in line with the Minns Labor Government’s housing priorities of well-located homes, close to transport, amenities and services.

The HDA has been designed to speed up the assessment of well-located major residential projects through a State Significant Development (SSD) pathway and to also offer proponents a new streamlined concurrent assessment and rezoning pathway, with neither having to be approved by councils, cutting approval times and speeding up the delivery of new homes.

Under the SSD pathway, assessment timeframes could be cut, in some cases, by more than a year.

From 8 January 2025 applicants will be able to submit an Expression of Interest to the HDA for major housing developments above approximately $60 million in Greater Sydney and $30 million in regional NSW.

The HDA will meet monthly to consider proposals against the EOI criteria and make recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces on whether to declare these proposals as SSD.

Proponents can still choose to follow the existing regionally significant development pathway assessed by councils and determined by planning panels, but the establishment of the HDA and the new SSD pathway will give them another option for major residential developments.

This new assessment pathway will reduce the number of large complex development applications councils are required to assess each year, freeing up resources for councils to assess less complex development applications.

Delivering well-located homes close to transport, jobs and community amenity has been a priority for the Minns Government, and this pathway will significantly speed up the assessment of these projects.

The HDA will include the Secretary of the Premier’s Department Simon Draper, the Secretary of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Kiersten Fishburn and the Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure NSW, Tom Gellibrand.

More information about the HDA, EOI criteria and SEARS can be found at Housing Delivery Authority | Planning

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“These changes will help deliver the homes that young people, families and workers need by speeding up planning approvals and assessments for major housing developments.

“We have acted swiftly to make these latest reforms to establish the Housing Delivery Authority which represent a significant change to how we bring major housing developments to market across NSW.

“These changes are about making it easier to increase housing supply near existing infrastructure vital to supporting thriving, vibrant communities including more options for young people now and into the future.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Throughout the period of consultation, this reform has been welcomed with widespread acknowledgement that the HDA will speed up assessment allowing more new homes to be delivered more quickly.

“The Housing Delivery Authority will provide a consistent approval pathway for major housing projects with more rigour and less red tape.

“The Housing Delivery Authority builds on the Minns Labor Government’s recent planning reforms such as the Transport Oriented Development program, the Housing Taskforce and the International Pattern Book Design Competition.

“Councils will continue to support the state-wide commitment to increase housing supply by assessing housing developments submitted via the local and regionally significant development approval pathways.​”

The Minns Labor Government will significantly expand accessible housing options for people with disability thanks to NSW Housing Pattern Book designs that uphold industry standards for accessibility and adaptability. 

All NSW Housing Pattern Book designs will at least meet the requirements of the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Liveable Housing Design Standard, which has been adapted from the silver level Liveable Housing Design Guidelines.  

Silver level core design requirements include:  

• a step-free path from the street entrance to the home
• bathrooms with showers flush with the surrounding floor level
• internal doors or corridors which offer comfortable and unimpeded movement between spaces. 

In addition, all mid-rise apartment buildings between three and six stories will also include a minimum of 10 per cent adaptable homes.

An adaptable home is designed to make it easy to modify parts of the home, such as kitchen, laundry, or bathroom, to meet the changing needs of the residents. 

The NSW Housing Pattern Book is part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to increasing housing choice and making NSW more inclusive and accessible for people with disability.  

We’ve already made significant investments to improve disability inclusion across NSW Government services including: 

• Investing $800 million to upgrade public transport accessibility 
• Expanding disability support classes in schools, with 243 new support classes established this year
• Making the largest ever investment in silver-level accessible housing in the State’s history, with 8,400 new social homes being built through the government’s $5.1 billion investment in public housing 

The NSW Government will launch the Pattern Book technical designs in mid-2025. The pre-approved housing designs will be accompanied by a fast-track planning pathway to support speedier construction.  

For more information on the NSW Housing Pattern Book please visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/government-architect-nsw/housing-design/nsw-housing-pattern-book. 

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said: 

“The NSW Government is focused on building well-designed modern homes that can adapt to the needs of people and families, regardless of their abilities or stages of life. 

“This requires bold and innovative designs for terrace houses and mid-rise apartments that meet rigorous standards, and the NSW Housing Pattern Book is providing an important blueprint for achieving these standards across NSW. 

“These world class designs will play a crucial role in increasing the supply of housing in NSW so that more people have homes that meet their needs.” 

Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said: 

“We’re making sure that more new homes will be accessible to more people by embedding accessibility standards into the NSW Housing Pattern Book designs.

“The NSW Housing Pattern Book reflects the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis while making our communities more inclusive and accessible for all.

“With these new designs and planning processes, we’ll be delivering what communities across the state desperately need – more places for more people to call home.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion Liesl Tesch said: 

“Enhancing access to broader scale inclusive housing is such an important next step in the NSW Government’s commitment to increasing accessible housing supply across our communities.

“People with disability have been calling for a focus on accessibility in the housing design process for decades. Ensuring that accessibility standards are embedded in the NSW Housing Pattern Book designs is critical in making inclusion a must-have for future housing investment.”

Government Architect NSW Abbie Galvin said: 

“Patterns catering to accessibility and gaps in the market, including intergenerational and family friendly housing, will be a feature of the designs in the NSW Housing Pattern Book. 

“This allows people to remain in their homes for longer and reduces the likelihood of having to relocate to alternative housing, which can cause significant disruption and break community ties.” 

Families planning to welcome a new cat or dog into their household this festive season are being urged to “Adopt, Don’t Shop”, and help pets in council pounds and rehoming facilities find fur-ever homes.

Adopting from a pound or rehoming facility rather than buying from a pet shop or breeder is a great way to welcome a new pet into your family and give them a brighter future.

It can also help take the burden off council pounds and rehoming facilities which are continuing to experience challenges with high numbers of animals being surrendered.

Data from the Office of Local Government shows more than 3,837 dogs and 4,473 cats found forever homes after being adopted through council pounds in the year to 30 June 2024.

To adopt a pet, contact your local council for information on council pounds, or visit the RSPCA, Animal Welfare League, Cat Protection Society or another approved rehoming organisation.

In the lead-up to the festive season, current and prospective pet owners are also being urged to ensure their pets are microchipped and registered.

Ensuring your details are correct is an important part of responsible pet ownership and can help reunite owners with pets if they go missing during a family holiday or get spooked by fireworks.

Registration is free-of-charge for desexed cats and dogs adopted from pounds, animal shelters and approved rehoming organisations.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“I’d strongly encourage anyone hoping to find a pet dog or cat under the tree this year to consider adopting.

“When it comes to Christmas presents, it’s hard to think of a better gift then giving a pet a second chance at life.

“There are many cats and dogs in council pounds and rehoming facilities and I hope everyone looking to buy a pet will consider adoption instead.

“It’s important to remember that owning a pet is a significant responsibility and I urge anyone who does get a pet for Christmas to make sure they’re ready to take on that commitment.”