Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government is creating local low-carbon manufacturing jobs on the NSW Mid North Coast by awarding just over $2 million to Solidcast, to boost production of low-carbon concrete panels used for housing and other projects.

The Australian-owned company, with a facility in Wauchope, has developed patented precast panels that cut emissions by up to 60% compared to traditional concrete.

These panels can be used in large-scale residential, commercial and civil projects, making construction faster, more affordable and more sustainable. This helps NSW deliver much-needed new housing supply while lowering the environmental impact of the building sector.

Labor’s support to expand operations will create an extra 25 full-time jobs across construction and operation phases.

The concrete panels have attracted significant interest from builders, developers, architects, engineers and government project managers. As well as being easy to use for modular housing, they are also cyclone, fire and flood resistant.

This grant is funded through the NSW Government’s Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, which is investing $480 million to help local businesses expand capability in renewable energy, low-carbon products and clean technologies.

For more information, visit https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/NetZeroManufacturing.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe:

“The transition to net zero is not just about reducing emissions. It’s about creating jobs, building industries, and ensuring communities benefit from the opportunities of a low-carbon economy.

“These concrete panels are lighter, stronger and can be made with recycled polystyrene, reducing both transport emissions and the amount of waste going to landfill.

“By backing projects like this, the Minns Labor Government is reducing the carbon footprint of the building industry and supporting regional jobs and housing delivery.”

Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin:

“Regional NSW is home to world-class innovation in sustainable construction and Solidcast is a great example.

“By backing manufacturers like Solidcast, we’re building supply chains at home, reducing reliance on imports, and keeping investment and jobs in our regions.”

The NSW Opposition congratulates Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM on his appointment as the next Commissioner of the NSW Police Force.
 
Deputy Commissioner Lanyon is highly regarded by rank-and-file officers, having served the community since joining the NSW Police Force in 1987. Rising through the ranks, he led the State Crime Command before his promotion to Deputy Commissioner in 2019.
 
In 2022, the Coalition Government appointed him Northern NSW Recovery Coordinator, where he directed the state’s response to the devastating Northern Rivers floods. His leadership in that role showed both his operational strength and his ability to connect with communities in their most difficult times.
 
Most recently, Mr Lanyon has served as CEO of the NSW Reconstruction Authority, helping disaster-affected towns and regions rebuild with confidence. His experience across frontline policing, crisis leadership and community recovery makes him well placed to lead the NSW Police Force into the future.
 
The Opposition also acknowledges outgoing Commissioner Karen Webb for her service and contribution to policing in New South Wales.
 
NSW Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Mal Lanyon brings long experience and will bring steady leadership to the role, with the trust of officers and respect of the community.
 
“His leadership has been tested in disaster zones and in tackling serious crime, and he has delivered every time. I congratulate him on this appointment and thank Karen Webb for her dedicated service,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Minister for Police Paul Toole said Mal Lanyon has walked in the shoes of frontline officers for decades and knows what it takes to keep NSW safe.
 
“He is tough on crime but also understands the human side of policing, whether it’s supporting victims or helping communities recover after disaster. The Police Force will be in strong hands under his leadership. I also thank Karen Webb for her years of service and wish her well for the future.
 
“Residents across NSW will be looking towards Mr Lanyon for leadership and steadfastness in bringing the NSW Police Force into this new era.
 
I look forward to working with the Commissioner and continuing my support for the NSW Police Force”, Mr Toole said.

Netball NSW is pleased to announce the coaching appointments for the 2026 NSW State Teams, with Wyong District’s Amber Cross named Head Coach of the 19U side and Baulkham Hills Shire’s Nardia Trevor reappointed as Head Coach of the 17U team following this year’s silver-medal finish at Nationals.

Cross returns to the helm with an impressive record, having previously guided both 17U and 19U NSW teams to championship success and named as the Premier League Coach of the Decade for her outstanding leadership of the Central Coast Heart. Most recently, she stepped into a mentoring role and served as an observer on Netball Australia’s National Selection Panel for 2025, but will once again take charge of the 19U program in 2026.

“It’s always a privilege to coach for New South Wales – there’s such a proud legacy of coaches and athletes who’ve come through this pathway. I know how competitive these roles are, so I feel humbled to be selected again. After a year away, I’m really looking forward to getting back out on court, shaking off the rust and doing what I love,” the newly appointed Head Coach, Amber Cross said.

Cross is supported in her coaching role by Sarah Bowen (Manly Warringah) as Assistant Coach and Georgia Fuller (Barellan & District) as Apprentice Coach. Both bring strong development experience, with Fuller also highlighting Netball NSW’s commitment to fostering regional coaching talent.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Sarah and Georgia. Both bring so much passion and energy. Sarah is incredibly organised with strong tactical knowledge, while Georgia, like me, comes from a regional background and has a natural gift for coaching. Their strengths will definitely add to what we can deliver as a team,” Cross concluded.

In the 17U program, familiar faces return following their silver-medal performance at Nationals this year. Head Coach Trevor, now with South Coast Blaze and Apprentice Coach Diana Benioni (Eastwood Ryde), both coached the GWS Fury Premier League franchise to the 23U Premiership in 2025. They will be joined by Assistant Coach Jordan Bedingfield (Sutherland Shire).

For Trevor, the reappointment is both an honour and an opportunity to continue building on her team’s success.

“It’s an honour to be reappointed. For me, it’s about continuing the work we began last year — learning from that campaign, building on those foundations, and elevating our performance as we head toward 2026. The talent emerging in this age group is incredibly exciting, and I’m looking forward to working with the selected team and seeing what each individual can contribute to the group.”

Netball NSW General Manager of Performance and Pathways, Mardi Aplin, said the appointments reflect the strength of the state’s coaching landscape.

“Netball NSW is fortunate to have such a highly experienced panel overseeing the appointment of our coaching team. With Jill McIntosh, former Australian Diamonds Head Coach; Anita Keelan, Netball Australia’s Head of Pathways; and Maria Lynch, a respected High Performance Coach with deep insight into our coaching landscape — we’re guided by exceptional expertise and a strong understanding of what’s required to succeed in this space.”

The NSW 17U and 19U State Teams will be finalised later this year ahead of the 2026 National Netball Championships.

The Minns Government has announced that one of Australia’s most iconic port towns, Newcastle, will be further invigorated now that applications are open with $1 million available to support local groups or businesses to undertake projects to boost activation, heritage or tourism.

The Newcastle Port Community Contributions Fund provides grants of between $10,000 and $250,000 for projects that benefit the environment, public domain, infrastructure, heritage restoration, activation, smart technology, events or community.

Applications for Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund Round 9 will open at 12 midday on Tuesday 7 October and close on Monday 1 December 2025.

Following feedback from the local community and Newcastle City Council, the NSW Government has improved how funding is being provided for community use to progress the precinct.

The Fund sets out to deliver high-quality projects that:

• foster stronger community bonds
• enhance accessibility
• boost visitation
• increase participation in cultural and artistic life
• and enhance public, environmental and business infrastructure which can be achieved through efficient program design.

The program, which has provided more than $7 million in funding so far, has delivered projects including upgrades to Soul Hub, a centre deliver life-changing services to disadvantaged, the Cottage Creek Southeast Public Domain Artwork for new public art and the Digitalise, revitalise and reimagine Delprat Cottage installing virtual restoration that transports visitors to the past, present and future of the site.

This announcement follows an announcement in early August when the Minns Government stated it was investing $8.73 million into two Hunter projects to build a new maritime facility in Newcastle to attract servicing of international super yachts, and upgrade saleyards infrastructure in Singleton.

Program guidelines and eligibility criteria will be available from 7 October at nsw.gov.au/npccf

Minister for Agriculture, and Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“The Port of Newcastle is a vital economic, industrial and tourist hub and it was important to improve how community groups and businesses can access these funds and deliver real results.

“The Minns Government is committed to reshaping how we support regional projects and communities and to ensure we can deliver what people really want.

“We mean business and want to be smart in how we work with those people who know what is needed locally and what will work to improve the precinct or expand businesses.

Minister for the Hunter, and MP for Swansea, Yasmin Catley said:

“The Hunter is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing regions in the state and we’re laying the groundwork now so we are prepared for what’s to come.

“We’re investing heavily to make sure this region continues to succeed – not just as a great place to live and work, but as a destination people want to visit as well as a place people want to build their future.

“This is about celebrating our community, empowering local businesses and unlocking Newcastle’s full potential – something I’m proud to support.”

NSW MP for Newcastle, Timothy Crakanthorp said:

“The Newcastle Port Community Contributions Fund is a significant grant and funding program for local organisations and community groups.

“The Port of Newcastle is central to our city’s maritime history and economic future.

“I encourage all eligible groups to apply.”

The opening of NSW’s first multifunctional Interventional Radiology Suite at Liverpool Hospital has set a new standard in life-saving patient care and medical innovation.

The facility, a highlight of the first phase of the $830 million Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct (LHAP) redevelopment, combines cutting-edge magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), angiogram, computed tomography (CT) and sonar (ultrasound) in one purpose-built, centralised location.

Dubbed the IR-MACS suite, the unit allows patients to undergo highly complex, combined procedures without leaving the table, delivering exceptional precision.

From minimally invasive procedures to kill cancer cells in tumours and block the flow of blood in aneurysms, IR-MACS is redefining interventional radiology in NSW.

The unit includes three state-of-the-art rooms, featuring the latest interventional CT, a ceiling-mounted angiographic suite and a wide-bore MRI. The technology can operate individually or as a single, seamless unit.

Specialist staff are equipped to deliver advanced care in a radiation-free environment, helping to keep them safe when providing care to patients.

The IR-MACS suite’s infrastructure supports new and innovative approaches to acute healthcare and provides staff with purpose-designed and built facilities for contemporary clinical practice.

Demolition works to prepare the site for phase 2 of the LHAP redevelopment are well underway. Phase 2 will deliver a second integrated services building, including an integrated cancer centre, with a wellness centre, and expanded women’s and children’s ambulatory care.

The project is expected to be completed in 2027.

the Minister for Health Ryan Park

“By the early 2030s, more than 1.2 million people are expected to call south western Sydney home.

“It is critical that cutting-edge services such as the incredible new Interventional Radiology suite are a major focus of the $830 million Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct to ensure the community continues to receive world-class care close to home.

“I congratulate the many teams involved in the opening of IR-MACS. We are building the healthcare of the future right here in the heart of Liverpool.’’

Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda

“This significant investment in Liverpool Hospital is transforming the experience of our patients, staff and community and the IR-MACS is a wonderful example of this transformation.

“I am proud and excited that our community is benefitting from this amazing technology and care in the IR-MACS suite, which is showcasing Liverpool Hospital as a beacon of clinical excellence nationally and internationally.

“Having access to this cutting-edge technology will mean our patients can potentially recover faster, go home quicker and have better long-term quality of life, which is fantastic”

Liverpool Hospital General Manager Scott McGrath

“The opening of the new IR-MACS suite represents a new era in care for Liverpool Hospital.

“The amazing IR-MACS technology provides minimally invasive treatments which stop bleeding, shrink tumours and save lives often in a single day.

“The Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct redevelopment is creating a centre for innovation and health research to provide a world-class working environment for our highly skilled clinicians and staff.’’

Liverpool Hospital Head of Department Interventional Radiology Dr Glen Schlaphoff

“Conceived in 2006, meticulously planned since 2009, and realised through years of sustained commitment, IR-MACS represents a landmark achievement in interventional radiology in NSW and a bold step into the future of image-guided therapy.

“As the first interventional radiology suite in NSW to integrate MRI, CT, and angiography within a single, co-located environment, it enables highly complex, minimally invasive procedures with unprecedented imaging precision and procedural flow, all without moving the patient from the table, enhancing both safety and therapeutic efficacy.

“The ability to perform real-time MRI-guided tumour ablations and complex, previously unachievable biopsies is taking interventional oncology to new levels of precision and treatment success.’’

The Minns Labor Government is investing $3.17 million into two Central Coast projects as part of funding from the Government’s Regional Development Trust to promote economic growth and employment creation.

This is part of the Minns Government’s plan to drive regional economic development and support job creation based on demonstrated need and merit for projects that are ready to go.

Together with the co-contributions from the two successful applicants, these projects will inject a total of $5.88 million into the Central Coast.

The investments will deliver a purpose-built training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub in Ourimbah, plus upgrading the visitor experience at the high-profile Australian Reptile Park in Somersby.

These two projects will see the Central Coast benefit from business infrastructure that will drive further economic benefits.

• $2.54 million – Expand and upgrade the visitor experience at the Australian Reptile Park
  • The upgrades will modernise the visitor facilities, improve accessibility, and increase the Park’s ability to cater for more international visitors.
  • The project will create local employment and strengthen the tourism industry across the Central Coast.
• $629,280 – Develop a training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub
  • The project will deliver a needed state-of-the-art training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub to provide training and workforce development opportunities for businesses, students, and job seekers.
  • The project aims to tackle skills shortages, drive technology adoption, strengthen the talent pipeline, and boost the region’s manufacturing sector.

This funding demonstrates the Minns Government’s smart approach to delivering sustainable and strategic investment on priorities that make a real difference to regional communities.

Investments from the Regional Development Trust are reviewed by the Regional Development Advisory Council, an independent body appointed by the Minister for Regional NSW to provide advice on investments and ensure the interests of regional communities are at the centre of government decision making.

Further announcements regarding other successful projects from the Regional Development Trust will be made in the coming months.

For more information, go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust

Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“This funding backs regional communities with projects that create jobs, boost local businesses and improve services and forms part of the NSW Government’s plan to invest in projects in our regional and rural communities that deliver long-term benefits.

“The upgrades at the Australian Reptile Park will drive a bigger number of international and domestic visitors to the Central Coast and ensure this iconic family attraction stays on tourist’s must do list when visiting the region.

“The Central Coast is a powerhouse for food manufacturing and building a new training facility in Ourimbah will support the industry’s longevity in the region, ensuring skills gaps are identified and filled, and exploring how new technologies can be used to increase productivity.”

Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris said:

“It is fantastic to see this funding targeted to a burgeoning sector and a tourist institution that is already a significant contributor to the Central Coast on so many levels.

“The investment in a training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub will further boost the region’s credentials as a cutting edge fine food and beverage producer.

“The Australian Reptile Park is the jewel in our region’s tourist crown, attracting hundreds of thousands of people and pumping around $50 million into the Central Coast economy every year, supporting many local jobs.”

Liesl Tesch, State Member for Gosford said:

“The Australian Reptile Park is such an exciting attraction, bringing in visitors from near and afar to learn about Australia’s native fauna.

“We know that visitors to the Reptile Park often go on to stay in our region, boosting our local economy and strengthening our regional tourism sector.

“The work of the Australian Reptile Park in conservation and venom research cannot be understated and I am thrilled that the Minns Labor Government is supporting their vital work.”

David Mehan, State Member for The Entrance said:

“The allocation of $3.17m by the Minns Government into these local projects will support our region’s position as a food manufacturer and allow the Reptile Park to continue providing its vibrant visitor experience.

“This funding boost is a welcome investment, which will not only create more local jobs but continue to drive economic growth to our region.”

Australian Reptile Park Managing Director, Tim Faulkner said:

“The Australian Reptile Park is proud to have been recognised as Australia’s Best Large Tourist Attraction, and this grant represents another exciting step in our expansion.

“Through the Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program, we will further develop our entry precinct, creating an enhanced and elevated welcome for all guests, including our valued international visitors.”

Central Coast Industry Connect Executive Director, Frank Sammut said:

“Industry will benefit from upskilled workers across modern manufacturing operations, helping businesses lift quality, safety, and productivity while accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies such as automation and robotics.”

Central Coast Industry Connect Project Manager, Alex Blow said:

“This project will be a game-changer for our region, it will give people the skills, confidence and industry connections they need, and in turn this investment will help businesses grow and build a stronger local economy and more prosperous community.”

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for the Minns Labor Government’s world-leading Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program (PFG).

From today, eligible applicants can apply to have the NSW Government commit to purchasing off-the-plan dwellings in eligible residential developments to help secure finance and bring construction forward on much-needed housing across NSW.

The Minns Government has introduced a range of reforms to increase the number of homes entering the system and speed up assessment timeframes, but getting homes built is the next big challenge.

Under the five-year initiative, the Government will leverage its strong fiscal position to commit to buy up to 50 per cent of homes off the plan in approved NSW housing projects.

Eligible homes will be valued at up to $2 million each, with support ranging from $5 million to $50 million per project.

Up to $1 billion in pre-sales will be committed to over the life of the project, through the use of a revolving fund.

As homes are sold and projects are completed, builders will have the option to:

• Rescind the commitments, releasing the funds and allowing the program to bring more homes forward for construction, or,
• Call on the Guarantee, where the homes are then purchased by the NSW Government at a discounted rate and either rented, or sold into the market.

The challenge of meeting pre-sale requirements is one of the most common issues cited by stakeholders in securing finance, and has been outlined as a key hurdle for industry in the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission’s Review of housing supply challenges and policy options for New South Wales

In the past five years, the time between approval and commencement of new apartments has increased 39 per cent, from 5.6 months to 7.8 months, and in NSW there are more than 13,000 developments approved but not commenced.

This landmark program will not only shorten the time between approval and construction but also reduce risk in the residential construction finance sector, giving lenders and homebuyers greater certainty.

The NSW Building Commissioner will also be engaged as part of the program’s application assessment process so only developers, builders and their projects that meet capability, credibility and capacity benchmarks are supported.

Developers are now invited to submit an Expression of Interest to join the program. Applicants, who have planning and indicative or binding finance approvals, and are ready to build within six months, will be initially assessed to determine if they and their projects are eligible to participate in the program.

To submit your Expression of Interest, visit Pre-sale Finance Guarantee

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“This guarantee will give lenders greater confidence, reduce risk in the housing finance market and accelerate the delivery of new homes across NSW.

“This is about turning approvals into actual homes, supporting jobs, boosting housing supply and strengthening the state’s economy at the same time.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is a game changer. This will bring forward the construction of homes, offer greater certainty for our building industry and reduce the level of risk in the financing sector.

“We have more than 13,000 homes sitting there approved but construction has not commenced. This is bad outcome for our housing delivery, our economy and our communities.

“We’re checking capacity, credibility and capability, we want good quality homes from reputable builders, and we want them soon.”

Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“We established Building Commission NSW as a dedicated building regulator to restore confidence in the residential construction sector.

“As the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee supports delivering the homes our state desperately needs, the Building Commission NSW will be doing all it can to make sure those homes are well-built by trusted professionals.

“The Minns Labor Government won’t be sacrificing quality for quantity as we get our housing supply back on track.”

NAB Group Executive, Corporate and Institutional Banking Cathryn Carver said:

“This initiative will provide certainty for developers and get more houses built in NSW – which is exactly what’s needed to provide access to housing, let alone keep home ownership within reach. NAB is proud to contribute to innovative solutions that contribute to housing supply, helping more Australians achieve their home ownership goals.”

All public school students from years 5 to 12 will soon have access to the Department of Education’s purpose-built, state-of-the-art generative AI app following a successful trial in 50 schools.

The NSW Government will roll out NSWEduChat to all schools from the start of Term 4, ensuring public school students are equipped with the necessary skills and technology to thrive as 21st century learners.

As the sophistication and use of generative artificial intelligence rapidly grows, access to the curriculum-aligned NSWEduChat will enable students to build AI literacy and skills in a safe environment where content is filtered and their data is secure.

The expansion will also help to bridge the digital divide by ensuring all students have equal access to this free education tool in the classroom.

Principals from trial schools strongly support its expansion, having found NSWEduChat to be a valuable tool for fostering independent learning, critical thinking, and student engagement. 

Students in the trial said it helped them understand their work better, develop their writing skills and break down complex tasks. 

Crucially, NSWEduChat does not reveal full answers to students. Instead of providing direct answers like some other AI applications, it encourages critical thinking by asking guided questions and inviting students to reason on the outcome of their questions. 

Top five uses of NSWEduChat by students in the trial:

• General feedback on writing
• Brainstorming support for tasks
• Virtual assistant, including supporting planning to complete assessment tasks, prepare for exams, etc
• Consolidating learning e.g. prompting NSWEduChat with content from lesson and asking it to generate a quiz
• Planning and structuring written responses

A separate NSWEduChat platform for teachers was rolled out to all schools earlier this year, with surveys showing it streamlines their workload and saves time in producing classroom resources to meet different ability levels.

In addition to this tool, the Department is launching Lesson Library, a new online platform providing streamlined access to quality curriculum resources written by NSW teachers, for NSW teachers, to help them deliver lessons aligned to the new knowledge-rich NSW syllabuses and explicit teaching.

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“The development of this safe, curriculum-aligned tool shows the power of our public education system to deliver world-leading innovation to classrooms across NSW.

“Generative AI is rapidly becoming part of everyday life, and through NSWEduChat we are helping our students to safely and responsibly build the digital literacy that will set them up for success in the jobs of the future.

“By making our free and effective AI tool available to all year five to 12 students, we are levelling the playing field when it comes to AI education in the classroom and ensuring that our educators, staff and students are at the forefront of emerging technologies.”

Bombala and surrounding communities are invited to provide feedback and learn more about the Bombala Multipurpose Service expansion, at a series of community consultation sessions in October.

The NSW and Australian Governments have committed $40 million for the project to deliver improved access to residential aged care services in Bombala, to help meet the current and future healthcare needs of the region.

Planning is progressing for the project which is expected to deliver 20 additional aged care beds, which will provide a significant boost to aged care accommodation in Bombala and surrounding areas.

The new aged care spaces will be designed to ensure comfort, safety and dignity for patients, within a welcoming, home-like environment. Planning for new staff accommodation is also underway to help attract and retain healthcare professionals in the region.

In October, Health Infrastructure and Southern NSW Local Health District, together with Nordon Jago Architects, will host a 2-hour community workshop to gain local insights and feedback that will help shape planning for the new facility and experience of residents.

The Bombala community can also attend an online presentation and Q&A or drop-in information session giving residents an opportunity to meet members of the project team, ask questions and learn more about the Bombala Multipurpose Service expansion.

Feedback can also be provided via an interactive online survey until Thursday 23 October 2025.

The project is being delivered by Southern NSW Local Health District and Health Infrastructure.

Construction timeframes will be confirmed following planning approval and the appointment of a building contractor.

Dates and locations:

Monday 13 October, 6.00pm to 7.00pm: Online community presentation and Q&A, registration is essential.

Tuesday 14 October, anytime between 3.00pm to 5.00pm:  Drop-in information stall, outside Bombala IGA.

Wednesday 15 October, 10.00am to 12.00pm: Community workshop, Bombala Library. Registration is essential and attendees must be available to attend for the 2-hour workshop.

To register interest in attending the workshop, or to complete the online survey visit Bombala Multipurpose Service expansion.

For more information about the Bombala MPS expansion, visit Bombala Multipurpose Service Expansion or email hi-bombalamps@health.nsw.gov.au.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“It’s exciting to see planning for the Bombala Multipurpose Service expansion progressing, helping to deliver a patient-focused facility for Bombala and surrounding communities.

“Feedback and valuable input from patients, families, carers, staff and community members will be integral in helping shape the design of this new facility that will improve access to residential aged care services.”

Member for Monaro Steve Whan:

“Older people should be able to get care wherever they live, and this is another step forward to delivering enhanced services for Bombala and surrounding communities.

“I encourage everyone to attend one of the upcoming community information sessions and speak with the project team to learn more about the expansion, to ensure the facility reflects the needs and priorities of our community.

“The Bombala Multipurpose Service expansion will boost access to quality aged care services in the community, while also supporting the broader health care needs of the whole community.”

The Minns Labor Government has accepted every recommendation of the Independent Rail Review into Sydney Trains, announcing an overhaul to maintenance, incident management and passenger communications after the system’s failings caused two days of chaos for commuters in May.

The Independent Rail Review is a sobering read. It makes clear the performance of Sydney’s rail system is not where it needs to be.

It’s important the community sees it in full which is why we are releasing the Review in full and acting on every recommendation.

The Review, commissioned after the 20 May 2025 overhead wiring failure at Homebush, was led by Dr Kerry Schott AO, Carolyn Walsh, and Trevor Armstrong.

It examined the cause of the incident, the impact of recent repair and fleet investment, and whether passenger communications were adequate during major disruptions.

The Review found that:

• The overhead wire which failed had been identified as a risk in 2020 but was never entered into Sydney Trains’ defect management system and not repaired.
• The fault caused city-wide disruption, with the impact spreading across multiple lines.
• Recovery of services was far too slow, including a three-hour operation to detrain passengers.
• Communication with passengers and within the Rail Operations Centre (ROC) was inadequate, contributing to confusion and delay.

The Government has accepted all 12 recommendations of the Review and will implement them with clear timelines and accountability measures.

This will be supported by an investment of $458.4 million over four years.

Key actions in response to the Review include:

1. Maintenance overhaul and rapid response repair teams

• Sydney Trains will declare “maintenance critical zones” on the network, starting with the Homebush–Strathfield corridor where multiple lines converge.
• An additional four-year $423.4 million asset renewal program will upgrade track, signals, overhead wiring and drainage in flood-prone areas. Just over $41 million will be spent this financial year.
• A dedicated $35 million reliability program is being spent this financial year to fast-track repairs in these high-priority areas, covering overhead wiring, track, signalling and power systems.
• In a significant change, Sydney Trains will move from time-based to risk-based maintenance, targeting areas with the greatest impact on network reliability.
• Two new rapid incident response teams will be established, based at Redfern (by late 2025) and Homebush (by early 2026).
• Two teams of 32 skilled staff will be rostered from 3am to 10pm to cover both the morning and evening peaks.
• These teams will be deployed during major incidents and special events to minimise disruption and restore services faster.

TIMEFRAME: Underway. Next steps from October 2025

2. Technology upgrades

• Annual digital scans of the overhead wiring network have already been introduced, detecting 126 points of risk since May, all of which have been addressed.
• Sydney Trains will roll out new laser hand-held devices by December 2025. These devices check wire thickness and will replace binocular inspections and significantly improve accuracy.

TIMEFRAME: Underway. Next steps from December 2025

3. Reforming the Rail Operations Centre

• A new Executive Director of Incident Response and Service Recovery has been appointed
• A Crisis Management Team model is now in place, with simplified command structures to end “decision by committee”.
• Incident management procedures are being simplified, and new contingency timetables will be developed to allow faster recovery when the system is disrupted

TIMEFRAME: Underway. Next steps from December 2025

4. Passenger communications and care

• Sydney Trains will implement a new systems so passengers receive clearer information on platforms, in apps and on trains when services are disrupted
• Opal Travel App alerts will be triggered automatically when major incidents occur, with a campaign to encourage more users to opt in
• Passenger Care and Support teams will be established to provide assistance at stations or on-board trains during incidents

TIMEFRAME: Underway. Next steps from December 2025

5. Fleet and workforce improvements

• The new Mariyung intercity fleet will enter service on the Blue Mountains Line in October 2025, followed by the South Coast Line in 2026, replacing older V-Sets
• The existing $447 million Tangara Life Extension Program will refurbish 445 carriages, extending their life and improving safety, disability compliance and onboard information systems
• Sydney Trains will also recruit additional train crew in 2026 to address staff shortages that have caused cancellations and delays on intercity services

TIMEFRAME: Ongoing

The Independent Rail Review is available here

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“The people of Sydney expect a safe and reliable rail network — and right now, it’s not up to scratch.

“The Review makes tough reading for the Government and will be disappointing for those 1.1 million people who rely on Sydney Trains every day. Even more so for commuters who were inconvenienced, or even stranded, on trains and platforms that day.

“This Review shows just how much work there is to do, and we’re determined to get on with it.

“Incidents are inevitable from time to time on a rail network the size and age of Sydney’s, but the missteps and mishandling of the response ensured two days of chaos on our city’s public transport system when a well-managed response could – and should – have limited disruption to one day.

“A well-managed rail maintenance program could – and should – have fixed this fault after it was detected and prevented the disruption affecting so many.

“I want to thank the Reviewers for their work. The Government is accepting all their recommendations and Sydney Trains and Transport for NSW will now have specific timelines to implement the improvements needed.