Category: NSW News

Penrith and Blue Mountains communities will soon benefit from a new intensive care unit, additional inpatient units, renal services and more, with construction now underway on the second state-of-the-art clinical services building at Nepean Hospital.

Premier Dominic Perrottet, Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres and Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies have turned the sod on the site of the new building being delivered as part of Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s $1 billion Nepean Hospital Redevelopment.

“Thousands of people in Penrith and the Blue Mountains are already reaping the benefits of the newly-opened 14-storey hospital tower at Nepean Hospital, which now boasts one of the best emergency departments in the State,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This sod turn marks the start of major construction of a second clinical services building, which will take Nepean Hospital to the next level, ensuring it will continue to deliver the very best healthcare for growing Western Sydney communities.”

The new building, which will be connected to the 14-storey tower built under Stage 1, will provide a new adult intensive care unit, more in-patient units, renal services, medical imaging and nuclear medicine services, education and training facilities and an accessible and welcoming front-of-house for patients, visitors and staff.

“Nepean Hospital is undergoing a tremendous transformation thanks to this $1 billion record investment from the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government that will ensure  Western Sydney communities are provided with world-class health services well into the future,” Mr Hazzard said.

“By 2031, more than 468,800 people are expected to call the Nepean Blue Mountains Health District home – up 21 per cent on the population in 2016 and we have planned ahead to meet their healthcare needs.”

Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres acknowledged the health staff who had been key to delivering a first-class hospital redevelopment for Western Sydney communities.

“Our fantastic staff at Nepean Hospital have been instrumental in the design of our new facilities, including the second clinical services building that has now started construction, to ensure they can continue to deliver the very best healthcare to their patients,” Mr Ayres said. 

“The successful recent opening of the new emergency department is a great example of everyone’s commitment and passion. I am extremely grateful to the hospital staff and everyone working on the redevelopment who have helped get us to this exciting milestone.”

Member for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies said the ongoing construction at Nepean Hospital was a great boost for the local economy.

“The Nepean Redevelopment is creating more job opportunities and ensuring better health outcomes for local people,” Ms Davies said.

“More than 3,700 contractors and subcontractors worked on Stage 1 of the Nepean Redevelopment during its construction phase, with 73 per cent of the workforce from Western Sydney.”

CPB Constructions has been awarded the tender to build the second clinical services building. Stage 2 of the redevelopment also includes an expansion of community-based healthcare in the Penrith area. Construction of this community service will begin once the design process has been finalised with hospital staff.

A new Pathology Unit is also being constructed at Nepean Hospital as part of Stage 2, and clinical areas are being repurposed to better co-locate services and improve patient access.

The NSW Government is investing a record $11.9 billion in health infrastructure over four years to 2025-26. Since 2011, the NSW Government has delivered more than 180 health capital projects across NSW, with more than 130 projects currently underway.

In Western Sydney and South Western Sydney, the NSW Government has delivered, or is delivering, around 40 health capital projects, with a total investment of just on $8 billion.

For more information about the Nepean Hospital Redevelopment visit: https://www.nepeanredevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au/

Link to animation and artists impressions

New designs have been unveiled showcasing the state-of-the-art $750 million Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, which will see a doubling of treatment spaces in the emergency department and a 30 per cent increase in bed capacity in the Intensive Care Unit.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said a new 15-storey tower will be the centrepiece of what is the most significant redevelopment in the hospital’s proud 140-year history.

“This redevelopment is a once-in-a-generation project, delivering 1400 direct construction jobs and thousands more indirect jobs but most importantly, it will expand the cutting-edge healthcare facilities and services on the campus,” Mr Hazzard said.

“The redevelopment will deliver more state-of-the-art operating theatre space including a hybrid theatre to facilitate complex surgeries, double the recovery space, as well as deliver a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with 30 per cent more capacity.”

RPA is one of Australia’s leading hospitals, renowned for its excellence in providing innovative health care and education for the 740,000 people who live in the Local Health District, and the more than one million people who work or transit daily in the vicinity of the campus, including patients, visitors and students.

The bright, contemporary design of the new tower will seamlessly connect to the existing hospital campus and includes a new northern entry from Johns Hopkins Drive, which will improve access for the community to the campus.

Mr Hazzard also today officially opened the new, expanded RPA Kidney Dialysis Centre,  one of the first new facilities to be delivered as part of the early works for the redevelopment.

“The new dialysis centre will ensure people with chronic kidney disease are receiving the best possible life-saving care in a comfortable, modern health facility, supported by a fantastic team of renal and renal transplant clinicians,” Mr Hazzard said.

Co-located with the Kidney Centre’s outpatient services for the convenience of patients and their carers, more than 160 patients have received ongoing dialysis treatment in the facility, in addition to more than 50 patients who have been trained or updated for home dialysis treatment.

It includes 38 new haemodialysis chairs, three peritoneal dialysis rooms and an additional 10 home training chairs for patients learning to self-dialyse. 

The $750 million RPA Redevelopment includes: 

· Expanded and enhanced emergency department and intensive care units

· State-of-the-art operating theatres

· Expanded and improved adult inpatient accommodation

· Increased interventional and imaging services

· Expanded neonatology services

· Improved roads, signage and landscaping throughout the hospital

· A new open garden courtyard

· Rooftop helipad

Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Dr Teresa Anderson AM said staff were excited to see the stunning new designs and flythrough of the redevelopment, which will support millions of health workers, patients and their families in the years ahead.

“This expansion will allow us to build on the world-class services we already provide to the people of Sydney and NSW,” Dr Anderson said.

“From expanded emergency rooms to state-of-the-art operating theatres and much more, the health and wellbeing of our patients and their families has been at the forefront of this new design.”

Early enabling works for the redevelopment are currently underway alongside the planning and design of the new hospital expansion, with the main works construction contract expected to be awarded in late 2023.

Planning for the redevelopment is progressing, with the final State Significant Development Application recently submitted with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and currently on public exhibition.

Construction for the RPA Hospital redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2028, and is part of the NSW Government’s record $11.9 billion investment in health infrastructure to 2025-26.

The NSW Government has invested $18 billion in health infrastructure since 2011.

For more information visit: www.rparedevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au 

Click here to view the flythrough video

New South Wales has maintained the lowest unemployment rate among the states for the fifth consecutive month, according to today’s ABS labour force data.
 
The figure shows 5,100 fewer people are in work but the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.1 per cent. The national unemployment rate increased to 3.7 per cent.
 
The female unemployment rate is 2.8 per cent in NSW, the lowest since monthly records began.
 
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said today’s figures demonstrated the strength of the NSW economy and the impact of the state’s initiatives for women and childcare.
 
“We expect our initiatives for women and childcare will support more women in employment and unlock future productivity dividends to strengthen our economy,” Mr Kean said.
 
“Today’s results are encouraging considering the current national and international economic challenges we’re facing here in NSW.”

Liberal candidate for Leppington, Therese Fedeli, has welcomed significant investment in the local community from the NSW Government’s $5 billion WestInvest program.

“This is an incredibly exciting day for the Leppington community. Whether it’s a swimming pool, sports fields, tennis courts and parks, this is the investment that binds a community together,” she said.

“The Premier again visited to make this major announcement which shows his commitment to the Leppington area as a whole. This is a government that has a long term economic plan which delivers on investments like this.”

The projects announced today include:

· $53.4 million for the Liverpool Council to deliver the Carnes Hill Aquatic & Leisure Centre which will upgrade the centre with a new 50 metre pool and other amenities; and

· $21.3 million for Camden Council to deliver open space in Leppington, with three sports fields, three tennis courts, a multipurpose court and three local parks.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Sport Alister Henskens announced more than $309.6 million in funding for local councils and community groups in the Burwood, Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Penrith and Wollondilly LGAs to deliver 14 new and upgraded sports facilities across Western Sydney.

This is in addition to the 15 sports projects announced yesterday, taking the total investment in new sporting facilities through the $1.6 billion WestInvest Community Project Grants – Competitive Round to more than $626 million for 29 projects.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the projects funded through WestInvest include upgrades to ovals and change rooms to support the increasing number of women in sports and a new centre of excellence to support our elite athletes.

“We want to encourage the growth in women in sport by ensuring we have appropriate change rooms and training facilities, as well as inspiring places to pursue a diverse range of sports,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This WestInvest funding will help drive women’s participation from the grassroots to the elite level, thanks to the long-term economic plan of the Liberal and Nationals Government.

“The new Sport and Health Centre of Excellence at Leumeah will also go a long way to supporting local talent development pathways for athletes into elite sport through specialised science and research programs.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said the funding will boost sports facilities right across Western Sydney, enabling more people to stay active and keep fit.

“No matter where you live, you should have access to state-of-the-art sporting facilities and WestInvest is delivering for Western Sydney,” Mr Kean said.

“This funding will provide greater opportunities for the community to train and play in any weather on any day and maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the WestInvest funding for the open space project in Leppington will deliver essential green and open spaces to encourage health and well-being in one of Western Sydney’s fastest growing suburbs.

“This WestInvest funding will go towards three A-grade sports fields, three tennis-courts, a multipurpose court as well as play areas and amenities,” Mr Henskens said.

“Regardless of age, ability or the sport you play, this investment will deliver critical sport infrastructure and green space that will promote participation and ensure anyone who wants to serve an ace, shoot a hoop, or kick a ball can do so in a safe environment.”

To find out more about WestInvest visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/westinvest.

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is taking action to protect the 400,000 construction jobs across the state by strengthening industrial relations and procurement oversight for Government projects.

The boost to the Construction Compliance Unit will further protect the state’s $116.6 billion infrastructure pipeline and the jobs and families it supports.

The move comes after the federal Labor Government abolished the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) and the federal building code of conduct.

The federal instruments had successfully underpinned productive growth and lawful conduct in the industry, supporting the construction boom in NSW over the last decade.

In response to federal Labor abandoning sensible regulatory safeguards in the construction industry, the NSW Government is stepping in to fill the void by:

· Boosting funding to the NSW Construction Compliance Unit (CCU) by $1.3 million a year for proactive monitoring, reporting and compliance activities;

· Increasing unannounced site visits on NSW Government-funded infrastructure projects by the CCU and

· Commencing an open consultation with industry stakeholders to review the NSW Building and Construction Procurement Guidelineswhich regulate the conduct of building and construction work on NSW Government projects.

These measures will protect against cost and time blow outs that would lead to a less productive industry with fewer jobs.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the Liberal and Nationals Government was committed to a flourishing construction industry that delivers for workers, taxpayers and the broader community.

“The benefits of our record infrastructure pipeline will be felt far and wide and we cannot allow Labor’s sabotage of a successful regulatory framework to put those projects and jobs in jeopardy,” Mr Kean said.

“We are just catching up from Labor’s abysmal record on infrastructure delivery in this state and proper regulation of the construction industry is a crucial part of the Liberal and Nationals delivering for the people of NSW.”

Minister for Employee Relations Damien Tudehope said opposition to regulation of the construction industry and the ABCC was not in the best interests of workers.

“The Liberal and Nationals Government has a proven track record of driving a consistent pipeline of good jobs in construction and we want this to continue,” Mr Tudehope said.  

“Construction union membership is under 10 per cent in Australia but we know from the experience in other states that this minority can impose an enormously damaging impact from shutting down projects, coercive and illegal action and dragging out industrial disputes with ambit claims.

“Whether it’s promoting compliance when a new tunnel is being dug or at a motorway expansion project, these measures will mitigate against the risk of delay or interruption to the state’s major infrastructure projects.”

Brian Seidler, Executive Director of Master Builders Association NSW, said following the abolition of the ABCC last year, it was pleasing to see the NSW Government taking steps to ensure that construction sites here have some protections from unlawful and coercive behaviours.

“Since at least 1982 multiple Royal Commissions and judicial enquiries have recognised that the unique nature of commercial construction means that the industry is especially vulnerable to unethical and illegal behaviour, and as such requires special measures in order to deter illegal behavior,” Mr Seidler said.

“Greater oversight and increased funding for the NSW CCU to undertake proactive monitoring, reporting and compliance activities is welcomed.”

The Perrottet Government’s two-year funding boost for the Productivity Bootcamp will give hundreds more young people from the South Coast access to training construction industry opportunities.

Liberal Candidate for South Coast, Luke Sikora, welcomed the $3.2 million extension of the program, which will help 16 to 25 year olds develop pre-trade skills for jobs on local construction projects.

“This funding for additional training opportunities will help us to bolster out local workforce in a critical industry that will be building South Coast’s future,” said Mr Sikora. “I am proud to be running for the Perrottet Government which is investing in empowering our communities and building South Coast’s future.”

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the funding boost builds on the Liberal and Nationals Government’s record $3.1 billion skills budget, which is part of our long-term economic plan to keep NSW moving forward.

“The South Coast continues to benefit from the Liberal and Nationals government’s record infrastructure investment, but with that comes great demand for skilled workers.

“We’re already investing record funds in TAFE NSW and delivering an unprecedented level of fee-free training to help people get the skills they need for the jobs they want.

“This funding for Productivity Bootcamp builds on that, delivering practical, challenging and hands-on skills for young people seeking jobs in the construction industry.”

The funding will enable Productivity Bootcamp to deliver an additional 11 eight-week programs and one five-week program at its South Nowra centre over two years.

Productivity Bootcamp founder and director Paul Breen said the company has been delivering strong results in previous Bootcamps in Western Sydney since 2015.

“Our Bootcamp program provides a transformative 8-week intensive course that arms young people with the skills and attitude needed to be successful,” Mr Breen said.

“It helps young people develop the skills and attributes demanded by employers, such as reliability, communication and teamwork.”

Grassroots sport will be safer for players, spectators and volunteers as part of a $500,000 push to install life-saving defibrillators at community facilities across NSW.

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said 191 devices will be installed thanks to the latest round of the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program.

“With more than 8,500 people experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year in NSW, this program provides sports with early access to a defibrillator in the worst case scenario,” Mr Henskens said.

“Since the Liberal and Nationals Government introduced this program in 2017, more than 2,000 defibrillators have been installed at sports facilities across NSW.”

The grants cover the full cost of equipment under the program with several sporting organisations receiving multiple devices.

Up to $3,000 was available per device and with more people participating in sport and active recreation, these devices will ensure our sports facilities are better-equipped to respond to life-threating emergencies.

Professor Jamie Vandenberg, Co-deputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, said nine out of every 10 people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital don’t survive.

“We want to change that statistic so it’s vital that we get as many defibrillators installed across NSW,” Mr Vandenberg said.

“Every one of these new devices could prove lifesaving and help us achieve our goal.”

More information about the program is available online.

From grassroots junior sports teams to elite athletes, residents across North West and Western Sydney will benefit from a huge boost in funding for sports facilities, thanks to the NSW Government’s $5 billion WestInvest program.

Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Sport Alister Henskens today announced more than $316.7 million in funding for local councils and community groups in the Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Parramatta, Cumberland, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Strathfield and The Hills LGAs to deliver 15 new and upgraded sports facilities across Western Sydney.

The projects funded under the $1.6 billion WestInvest Community Project Grants – Competitive Round, range from new indoor and outdoor sports courts for basketball, netball and tennis, to upgrades to community ovals to support football and cricket to skate parks and new pools.

The projects include:

· $53.7 million for Cumberland Council to transform an underutilised site at Greystanes into a precinct for indoor and outdoor sport including netball, AFL, football, cricket, baseball, rugby league, rugby union, cricket, basketball, volleyball and badminton;

· $16 million for Fairfield City Council to upgrade the Endeavour Sports Park with a new synthetic field, sized for two soccer pitches, an AFL or a cricket pitch;

· $9.8 million for Hawkesbury City Council for the Tamplin Field redevelopment project for a new synthetic field to enable games, training and events in all weather;

· $5.6 million for the City of Parramatta Council to deliver the North Granville Community Open Space Upgrade project which will upgrade FS Garside Park and construct a natural turf football field and install new sports field lighting, seating and a regional sized playground.

· $3.5 million for the Blue Mountains Council to transform the Pitt Park Athletics oval into a dedicated state-of-the-art athletics sporting precinct. 

· $1 million for The Hills Shire Council to transform Fred Caterson Reserve in Castle Hill to support a range of indoor and outdoor sports.

· More than $573,000 for the Strathfield Municipal Council to deliver the Upgrade to Cooke Park Skatepark project to provide state of the art facilities to young skaters. 

Premier Dominic Perrottet said a sporting club is the heart and soul of a local community and WestInvest is enabling communities in North West and Western Sydney to grow, exercise and thrive.

“From the Pitt Park athletics complex in the Blue Mountains, Fred Caterson Reserve in The Hills to Tamplin Field in Hawkesbury, local communities across will benefit from a huge variety of sporting facilities funded by WestInvest,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Through the WestInvest fund we are laying the foundations to support for the next Harry Kewell, Pat Cummins, Alana Kennedy, Ian Thorpe and Paige Hadley.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said WestInvest will deliver world class facilities to support all sports ranging from junior level to the professionals to people who want to get more exercise and kick a ball around.

“This type of community infrastructure is critical for our future sporting stars to thrive from the day they step on to the sporting field. Athletes in Western Sydney deserve the best facilities to compete and perform so they can strive for greatness,” Mr Kean said.

“These facilities range in size and scale and cater to just about every sport from basketball, netball and volleyball to badminton and roller sports.”

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the WestInvest funding was another example of the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s strong track record of investment in community sport facilities.

“From grassroots sport through to the elite, these investments will turbocharge sport participation in Western Sydney, providing quality local facilities for players of all ages and abilities,” Mr Henskens said.

“It builds on the enormous amount of work we’ve done to invest in community sport infrastructure across our state.”

To find out more about WestInvest visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/westinvest

The countdown to Vivid Sydney 2023 has officially begun, with today marking 100 days until the festival’s Lights On moment at 6pm on Friday 26 May.

Celebrating creativity, innovation and technology, Australia’s largest festival will dazzle and delight audiences for 23 days and nights across four pillars this year – Vivid Light, Vivid Music, Vivid Ideas and the brand new Vivid Food.

Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said Vivid Sydney was one of Australia’s best events and a vital economic driver for NSW during the winter months.

“Vivid Sydney is NSW’s biggest annual event and makes a vital social and economic contribution to our state. From our creative industries to entertainment and hospitality venues, accommodation and retailers, it supports and creates jobs across the NSW economy,” Mr Franklin. 

“Last year Vivid Sydney was attended by over 2.5 million people and injected $119 million into the NSW economy. With internationals borders fully reopening, we’re anticipating this year’s festival to be our biggest and best yet.

“Vivid Sydney 2023 promises to be a significant driver for domestic and international visitors to travel to NSW and attend Australia’s brightest event and immerse themselves in our city.”

This year’s creative direction, ‘Vivid Sydney, Naturally,’ has been inspired by our connection to the natural environment and will be brought to life via a kaleidoscope of colourful light projections and activations, plus free and ticketed events. 

Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said this year’s festival would raise the bar even higher than past events with festival-firsts, world-firsts and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

“We are proud to have curated an impressive collection of local and international artists and food creatives to provide Vivid Sydney audiences with new and exciting experiences,” Ms Minervini said.

“We have expanded and evolved the festival further this year and have curated an amazing line-up for 2023. The festival offering includes some significant new and Vivid-first experiences, as well as Vivid Food to deliver world-class culinary talent, events and activations as part of the program.”

A preview into some of the Vivid Sydney 2023 highlights includes:

· The Vivid Sydney Light Walk will return in 2023, with more than 49 light installations and 3D projections along the 8km illuminated walk

· The internationally acclaimed, multi-sensory experience of light, colour and sounds, Lightscape, will transform The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney for the first time at Vivid Sydney

· First Nations artist Maree Clarke’s Barerarerungar will be projected on the Museum of Contemporary Art

· Internationally renowned Jen Lewin’s The Last Ocean will enthral audiences following its 2022 debut at Burning Man

· Brand new festival pillar Vivid Food will activate across venues in Sydney’s CBD showcasing a variety of creativity, innovation and culinary experiences, from pop up restaurants to haute cuisine celebrating the city’s vibrant and diverse food culture

Vivid Sydney 2023 will illuminate and energise various locations throughout the city, including Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line, Central Station and Sydney icons such as the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Museum of Contemporary Art and more.

Vivid Sydney is proudly owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency. The complete program for Vivid Sydney 2023 will be announced in mid-March. For more information, and to keep updated on the program, visit vividsydney.com

Liberal candidate for South Coast Luke Sikora has welcomed the Government’s announcement that women and girls hitting the golf course at Mollymook will benefit from new bathroom amenities thanks to the $25 million Female Friendly Sport Facilities and Lighting Upgrades Program.

“These are important upgrades for women and girls playing golf at Mollymook,” Mr Sikora said.

“Women’s sport on the South Coast is incredibly popular and having new amenities makes sport even more appealing. These investments are only possible because of the long term economic plan setout by the Perrottet Team who can deliver infrastructure projects.”

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said Mollymook Golf Club will receive more than $236,000 to build new bathroom amenities on course at both its Hilltop and Beachside courses.

“Women’s sport is booming in NSW and this program will deliver the facilities women and girls need and deserve,” Mr Henskens said.  

“This groundbreaking program will level the playing field by improving facilities that for decades have been predominately used by men, but now cater for a growing number of women’s and girls’ sporting teams.”

Since 2017 the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has committed more than $1 billion to deliver new and upgraded community sport facilities.

Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said the facility is used by the football community throughout the year and this investment would help to boost female participation by providing a safer environment for women and girls.

“Community sport is a vital part of our social fabric and some of the biggest barriers faced by women and girls are the lack of female change rooms and amenities, as well as adequate lighting,” Mrs Hancock said. 

“When women and girls feel comfortable they are more likely to stick with their chosen sport. This funding boost to upgrade the bathrooms will mean more women can play golf on the South Coast.” 

More information about the program is available online.