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In the first three weeks since the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) started accepting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for larger scale housing developments, it has already received nearly 100 proposals with the potential for more than 40,000 homes, with more expected.

So far, 85 EOIs in metropolitan areas and 11 in regional NSW have been received, exceeding expectations.

The HDA offers proponents a new State Significant Development pathway and State Significant Development pathway with a concurrent rezoning process – neither having to be approved by councils, cutting approval times and speeding up the delivery of new homes.

Each EOI is assessed against its capacity to deliver high yield, well-located, good quality homes faster.

Having identified that major residential developments above $60 million in metropolitan areas and $30 million in regional NSW often take longer in their assessment, these can now be submitted through the HDA.

These complex proposals often require greater resources and planning capabilitites and as a result, the projects can get stuck in council planning systems for years.

These delays compound declining housing availability, worsening affordability and create greater uncertainty for proponents who are trying to build much needed new homes.

In early February, the HDA will meet to recommend proposals to be declared a State Significant Development (SSD) project, community consultation and assessment will then proceed.

The EOI process is ongoing, providing regular opportunities for industry to have their major residential development proposals considered, with submissions reviewed monthly.

For more information visit Housing Delivery Authority | Planning

Premier for New South Wales:

“For far too long, it has been made harder and harder for people to build homes in NSW, so it is wonderful to see these reforms starting to turn that around.”

“Without these major changes that are speeding up the delivery of new homes, Sydney risks becoming a city without a future because it’s simply too expensive to put a roof over your head.

“By speeding up the approval of new homes near existing infrastructure and removing red tape that seems to have been designed to slow down development, we’re delivering the homes that young people, families and workers need.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“We expected 80 to 100 EOIs in the first year, so to see this many in less than a month signals trust from the industry in the Minns Government to deliver.

“Building more homes for NSW is a priority for the Minns Labor Government and the HDA is a major step towards unlocking those homes.

“This pathway is about seeing good quality projects move through the planning system faster and as part of that process, if we don’t see shovels in the ground in two years, proponent will lose their approval.

“The Minns Government is making it easier to build more houses closer to jobs, infrastructure, parks and transport and we need more, quality, large scale residential development proposals from industry to build a better NSW.”

Construction of the new $330 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital is on track, with the first concrete pour complete and work to build a new roundabout on the Princes Highway set to start in the coming months.

The new concrete slab forms part of the lower ground floor of the north-western corner of the hospital which will include the first paediatric department in the region and a contemporary maternity unit, supporting high-quality, patient-centred care.

The new maternity department has been designed with extensive input from staff and the community, and will offer a calming, modern and culturally safe environment for women and families.

The new paediatric department will complement other new services such as an intensive care unit and an MRI, enabling the hospital to provide comprehensive care for newborns, infants, and children.

To support future access to the new hospital’s site entrance, work to deliver a new roundabout on the Princes Highway will shortly begin, with construction expected to start in the coming months.

To ensure the safety of workers and motorists, temporary traffic conditions will be in place during this period, with work expected to be completed late 2025.

Staff and the community are encouraged to stay up to date with the latest project news and information by visiting the project website.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“The NSW Government is investing in the future of our local communities by delivering this critical health infrastructure project which will support the healthcare needs of the entire Eurobodalla Shire from Narooma to Batemans Bay.

“The $330 million new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be larger than both Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined and has been designed with the capacity to grow as demand for health services changes.

“This exciting milestone is another step towards delivering a world-class hospital for the Eurobodalla community.”

Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland

“It’s very exciting to see the significant progress being made on the $330 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital project, which will soon provide more health services and more specialist care for our community.

“I’m pleased to see the new paediatrics and maternity units taking shape, which will support elevated healthcare for families in the Eurobodalla, enabling and offering an enhanced level of service and care to our community.”

Almost 1,500 people have received more convenient and easy-to-access care for common skin conditions as part of the NSW Pharmacy Dermatology Trial.

The trial, which has surpassed the six-month milestone, allows appropriately trained pharmacists to manage common minor skin conditions.

These conditions include impetigo (school sores), shingles, mild to moderate eczema and acute mild plaque psoriasis.

Over 480 pharmacies across the state are currently participating in the trial.

The skin conditions phase of the trial builds on trials which have enabled authorised pharmacists to undertake consultations for urinary tract infections (UTI) and the resupply of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP).

Since June 2024, authorised pharmacists have been able to offer the UTI service as part of usual business, and the resupply of OCP since September.

This initiative has allowed thousands of people with the option of conveniently obtaining a prescription through their local pharmacist, relieving pressure on general practitioners (GP) and freeing up GP appointments for people who need them the most.

While the supply and accessibility of GPs is a responsibility of the Commonwealth, challenges relating to access to primary care is impacting the state’s hospitals.

The NSW Government however is playing its part by embracing new and innovative initiatives to create pathways outside the hospital, including:

• Empowering pharmacists to provide care for selected common conditions;
• Delivering more urgent care services and clinics;
• Delivering more virtual care services; and
• Saving bulk-billing in NSW by providing payroll tax relief to GP clinics. 

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Imagine, instead of struggling to find a GP appointment to receive a script for a minor skin condition, you could just pop down to your local pharmacy, and receive the care you need, when you need it.

“We’re providing thousands of people with the option of conveniently obtaining a prescription this way, relieving pressure on our GPs and saving GP appointments for people who need them the most.

“I am so pleased more than 1,400 people across NSW have been able to access more convenient, timely support for common mild skin conditions thanks to this trial.

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting innovative initiatives like this one that are helping improve access to primary care services.

Catherine Bronger, Senior Vice of President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, NSW Branch:

“Community pharmacists in NSW have provided immediate care for nearly 1,500 patients with minor skin conditions through the NSW Pharmacy Dermatology Trial.

With over 480 participating pharmacies, the initiative offers convenient prescription access, easing the burden on GPs and reserving their appointments for more critical cases.

This approach benefits both the community and its residents by making treatment more accessible and efficient.  The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is proud and honoured to be part of this critical initiative, supporting and evolving the NSW healthcare landscape.”

The South Coast is set to become a new manufacturing hub for the next generation of public transport with the creation of a brand-new electric bus manufacturing facility in Nowra.

Australian owned bus manufacturer Foton Mobility Distribution is set to build a 6,000 square metre manufacturing facility in South Nowra from late 2025, subject to council approval.

This follows the Minns Labor Government awarding a contract to Foton to deliver 126 battery electric buses that will be built in Nowra and service bus routes across Greater Sydney.

The facility will also produce battery electric trucks, as well as hydrogen fuel cell engines, creating around 100 ongoing quality, skilled manufacturing jobs for local workers.

Foton’s bus contract was one of the first bus orders made through the NSW Government’s Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) program.

This program is also converting 11 existing bus depots in Greater Sydney to battery electric technology, building a new battery electric depot at Macquarie Park and procuring around 1,200 new electric buses by 2028.

Transport for NSW is delivering the ZEB program in stages in close consultation with industry, including manufacturers, to provide an opportunity to increase capability and capacity supported by a published pipeline of bus orders.

While the domestic manufacturing sector can’t be rebuilt overnight – facilities like this are the first step towards building things here in NSW again.

This facility delivers on the NSW Government’s commitment to domestic manufacturing, supporting local jobs and local industry to build the public transport our state needs.

This follows 12 years of offshoring by the former Liberal National Government, leading to NSW missing out on thousands of job opportunities and bringing lengthy delays and cost blowouts on major transport contracts.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“The offshoring of public transport by the former government was a complete disaster, which is why we’re building these buses here in NSW – creating local jobs and public transport that works.

“This state of the art facility in Nowra will create ongoing skilled jobs in regional NSW while also delivering emissions free world class public transport for the people of our state.

“Workers across NSW are great at building public transport like these buses, and under our government they’re building them here again.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“When the Minns Labor Government says we want to build more buses here, we mean it.

“Once our partners at Foton get this plant up and running there will be an extra 100 quality manufacturing jobs right here. That’s great news for Nowra and a big boost for NSW manufacturing.

“We want our local manufacturers and suppliers have good opportunities to get involved in building the Zero Emissions Buses that we need. That’s why we have structured our zero-emissions bus program in a way that builds our bus manufacturing capacity for the long term.”

“We are at the beginning of our project to build the clean, green buses of the future. Transport for NSW announced the first battery electric bus orders under the Zero Emissions Bus program for Greater Sydney in December 2024.

“There will be many more orders to come for Sydney, Outer Metropolitan and Regional NSW and many good quality, skilled manufacturing jobs that will be created thanks to the Minns Labor Government’s support for building our buses, trains and ferries right here in Australia.”

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:

“This new facility shows the high-quality products that NSW workers and businesses can deliver.

“The previous government sent contracts like this offshore, costing NSW thousands of jobs and billions of dollars. We are choosing to support local jobs and local businesses.

“By leveraging the power of government contracts like this, we can rebuild local industries, support local workers and grow the NSW economy, particularly in regional communities.

“This is an important milestone as we deliver on our pledge to bring domestic manufacturing back to NSW.”

Member for South Coast Liza Butler said:

“The Minns Government understands the importance of local jobs and skills training for regional communities.”

“The proposed new bus factory here in Nowra will provide fantastic employment opportunities for up to 100 people once fully operational and enable the re-skilling and upskilling of many workers who wish to be a part of the transition to zero emissions transport.”

Member of the Legislative Council Sarah Kaine said:

“We’re building Australia’s future right here in the South Coast and delivering good quality, local jobs in the process.”

“This is a Labor Government that is investing back into its regional economies and ensuring equal opportunity for local manufacturing of our world-class transport system. 

The Albanese and Minns Governments have extended disaster recovery support for communities in the Blacktown, Cessnock, Dungog, Hawkesbury, Lake Macquarie, Mid Coast, Northern Beaches, Singleton, and Upper Hunter (LGAs) following severe thunderstorms and intense rainfall that impacted the regions from 15 January 2025.

These new disaster measures are in addition to the support for Maitland, Port Stephens, and Snowy Valleys LGAs announced on 18 January.

As more councils submit assessment forms outlining damage from this event, there will be further opportunity to expand the Natural Disaster Declaration.

Assistance measures that may be provided to communities through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) include:

• Support for eligible residents to help meet immediate needs like emergency accommodation.
• Grants for low income, uninsured residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain a basic standard of living.
• Grants for low income, uninsured residents to undertake essential structural repairs to restore their homes to a safe and habitable condition.
• Support for affected local councils and other agencies to help with the costs of cleaning up, keeping the community safe and restoring damaged essential public assets.
• Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers, and non-profit organisations and grants to sporting and recreation clubs to repair or replace damaged or destroyed property.
• Freight subsidies for primary producers to help transport livestock and fodder.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said this expanded support underscores the Albanese and Minns Governments’ commitment to helping local councils recover swiftly from the recent storms.

“This assistance will ensure more communities can access essential supplies and accommodation and ensure more councils can clean up and restore assets as soon as possible.

“I would like to acknowledge the efforts of first responders and the local councils who have done a fantastic job in difficult circumstances.

“The Australian and NSW governments are working hard to ensure communities get the support they need to recover.”

NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said disaster declarations like these are crucial in unlocking assistance for communities so they can begin cleaning up as quickly as possible.

“We rely on councils submitting impact assessment forms to extend this relief and I thank them for continuing to work constructively with the NSW Reconstruction Authority,” Mr Dib said.

“The NSW Government continues to assist people and businesses to clean up debris and remain safe after the severe thunderstorms and intense rainfall.

“There have been a high number of calls to the NSW SES, and I would like to thank our incredible volunteers and emergency responders who responded to these incidents and provided vital support for the community.”

More information on disaster assistance can be found on the www.disasterassist.gov.au.   

New laws regarding ATMs and EFTPOS machines near gaming machines will be enforced from next month, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s gambling harm minimisation reforms.

Under new rules, machines that allow cash withdrawals must be placed at least 5m from the entry to a gaming room and not be visible from any machine or entry to a gaming room.

Having ATMs and EFTPOS facilities further away from gaming machines encourages a break in play for vulnerable customers, who may benefit from taking a step away to consider how much they are spending.

The new rules came into place on 1 January, with a one-month grace period to comply. From this Saturday, 1 February Liquor and Gaming NSW will take a zero-tolerance approach, with venues in breach liable to fines, statutory directions and/or prosecution.

The new measures are the latest in a suite of reforms introduced by the NSW Government since 1 June 2023 to reduce gambling harm, including:

• banning the placement of any signage or advertising relating to gaming machines either on, or visible from an ATM or EFTPOS terminal with cash withdrawal facilities
• reducing the statewide gaming machine entitlement cap by more than 3000
• banning political donations from clubs with electronic gaming machines
• reducing the cash input limit on new gaming machines from $5,000 to $500
• banning all external gambling signage in venues
• introducing Responsible Gambling Officers for venues with more than 20 machine entitlements
• establishing an Independent Panel to conduct a trial of cashless gaming in pubs and clubs throughout 2024
• committing $100 million to harm minimisation – investing in research, prevention, services and reform.

Liquor and Gaming NSW is conducting a compliance campaign throughout January and February to work with venues to ensure they are meeting the new requirements.

More than 225 venues across 17 Local Government Areas have been inspected and while most have been found to be doing the right thing, 30 of the venues were yet to comply with the requirements.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to reforms to reduce gambling harm in clubs and hotels and we have achieved more in 22 months of office than the Liberal Coalition did in 12 years.

“All pubs and clubs in NSW with gaming machines must comply with gambling harm minimisation requirements and do the right thing by their patrons.

“It’s pleasing to hear the majority of venues inspected have complied with the new rules regarding placement of cash dispensing machines.

“I urge any licensees still to make the necessary changes to do so as quickly as possible or they can expect a strong enforcement response.”