Category: NSW News

A vast property spanning nearly 34,000 hectares has officially become a new national park, protecting a vital refuge for rare and threatened species in perpetuity.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin said the creation of Brindingabba National Park, 175 kilometres north-west of Bourke, is part of the 602,500 hectares of land since 2019 that has been secured for conservation as part of the NSW national parks estate.
 
“The addition of Brindingabba National Park is significant because its rich biodiversity will now be protected in perpetuity, and the people of NSW will be able to experience it for themselves for generations to come,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“The new Brindingabba National Park protects an important part of Lake Wombah and more than 7,000 hectares of Yantabulla Swamp, which are nationally important wetlands.
 
“The 33,903 hectare park supports 30 different ecosystems, protecting habitat for at least 12 endangered and 31 vulnerable species, including a small carnivorous marsupial called the kultarr, pied honeyeaters, hooded robins, pink cockatoos and fat-tailed dunnart.
 
“It also protects an endangered plant called Lancewood (Acacia petraea), which is only found in two other areas in NSW, and hasn’t been previously protected in our national parks estate.
 
“This new national park is a fantastic example of how partnerships can boost our efforts to conserve biodiversity, and we’re working towards more opportunities like this.”
 
The purchase of Brindingabba Station involved a ground-breaking partnership with The Nature Conservancy Australia (TNC), with the NSW Government supported in the acquisition with a valuable contribution from TNC, which brokered contributions from charitable foundations The Wyss Foundation and artist Haley Mellin’s Art into Acres initiative. 
 
TNC’s Director of Conservation and Science Dr James Fitzsimons said the acquisition of Brindingabba is an important milestone for the conservation of the State’s unique biodiversity.
 
“Brindingabba National Park protects unique landscapes that are nationally significant,” Dr Fitzsimons said.
 
“With neighbouring privately protected areas, it creates a conservation corridor of more than 65,000 hectares.”
 
The park adjoins the 31,200 hectare Naree and Yantabulla Stations, which are private reserves that the NSW Government protected in perpetuity through its Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) in June.
 
Situated in the Mulga Lands bioregion, this park increases the protection of one of Australia’s most poorly protected bioregions, with less than five per cent reserved.
 
Brindingabba features a diversity of ecosystems, from gidgee country and stony mulga rises, through to Mitchell Grass grasslands, Blackbox and Coolibah lined creek systems and lignum swamps.
 
Wetlands are some of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet, and this NSW Government acquisition will forever protect vital wetlands in the Cuttaburra Basin, part of the Paroo and the Warrego floodplains.
 
Located in the traditional Paroo River country of the Budjiti and Barkandji People on the NSW-Queensland border, the property has extensive Aboriginal cultural heritage, with evidence of artefacts and other items of significance across the property.
 
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) looks forward to working with the local Aboriginal community to protect these important cultural sites.
 
The park will boost the outback economy, providing an important new visitor destination as part of a strategy to help diversify regional economies.
 
NSW national parks contribute almost $18 billion in economic output for the state, delivering significant economic benefits for the regions.
 
NPWS has commenced management on the property and plans to build facilities to support opportunities to camp and explore the area.
 
It is expected the new park will open to the public before the end of 2023. Visit https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/

People across New South Wales have flocked to the Art Gallery of NSW’s new building and celebrations.
 
This week has seen more than 86,000 visits to the gallery and more than 25,000 people celebrate art and music last night for the one-night-only Art for All concert in The Domain.
 
The free concert – headlined by Grammy-nominated pop star Ellie Goulding – celebrated Sydney’s newest landmark and was the culmination of an opening program of art, music, performance and talks to mark the opening of the Art Gallery’s expansion. Playing alongside Goulding was Australian singer Meg Mac and electronic duo Electric Fields.
 
Minister for the Arts and Tourism Ben Franklin said he was thrilled to see so many people from across New South Wales embrace the most significant cultural development since the Sydney Opera House.
 
“The popularity of the expanded Art Gallery and the free opening celebrations have exceeded expectations,” Mr Franklin said.
 
“As cost of living pressures rise across the country, the NSW Government is committed to ensuring everyone can access cultural institutions and enjoy experiences through our free entry program.
 
“The Art Gallery’s expansion and celebration events have been a major visitor drawcard for Sydney, with an estimated 33,000 people visiting the Harbour City to celebrate the Gallery’s opening, injecting more than $20 million into the NSW economy.
 
“The opening of the Art Gallery’s new building is the beginning of an unrivalled calendar of world-class cultural events lined up for Sydney over summer, including Carmen on Cockatoo Island, Noel Sydney, the Australian premiere of Madagascar the Musical, ELEVATE Sydney, Sydney Festival and Sydney WorldPride, reinforcing Sydney’s position as the cultural capital of Australia.”
 
The calendar of major events for 2022/23 alone is forecast to inject more than $500 million of visitor expenditure into the NSW economy supporting the recovery of local hotels, bars, restaurants, tourism operators and small businesses.
 
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects SANAA, the Art Gallery’s new building doubles the space for art and provides even more incredible creative and cultural experiences for everyone to enjoy, attracting the world’s best touring exhibitions.
 
The final event in the opening program will take place tonight at 8.30pm with a drone show created by Indigenous artist Reko Rennie.

Another 122 community and not-for-profit groups will be able to host cultural celebrations in their local communities next year thanks to more funding awarded by the NSW Government. 
 
Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the groups had received a share of more than $1 million through the Stronger Together Festival and Events Grants program to host the events and festivals.
 
“Local streets right across our state are set to become so much brighter next year, thanks to each of the 122 local events we are funding,” Mr Coure said. 
 
“These events are important for so many reasons; they celebrate our unique diversity, they bring people together and they break down barriers, which fosters greater understanding and respect between people.”
 
Each of the community groups received grants between $5,000 and $15,000 to host cultural events and festivals between 1 February and 30 June 2023. 
 
Mr Coure said the grants program had been boosted from $500,000 to $1 million thanks to the 2022-23 NSW Budget.
 
“This year, through the Stronger Together Festivals Grants program, the NSW Liberals and Nationals have funded 283 community organisations with $2,098,329 to host events and festivals in their local areas,” Mr Coure said. 
 
“Each of these events is a reflection of the rich diversity of our communities right across the state. 
 
“This is one of the great things about our diversity here in NSW—you don’t need to travel overseas to experience the colour and vibrancy of other cultures, you can do it right here at home.” 
 
For more information about the Stronger Together Festival and Events Grants program, visit www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au

Liberal Candidates for Coogee and Vaucluse, Dr Kylie von Muenster and Kellie Sloane, are encouraging Eastern Suburbs families to participate in the upcoming consultations on the future of local public secondary education.

In early 2023, the Perrottet Government will invite the local community to have their say on a range of options that will deliver more public education choices. An independent external agency will be engaged to conduct the consultation process and canvass local views on three options:

1. Retaining single-sex education at Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High Schools.

2. Retaining single sex education at Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School and extending the intake areas of existing co-educational high schools to provide families with the option of single-sex or co-education.

3. Merging Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School to create a new co-educational campus.

Dr von Muenster welcomed this consultation as it will give local families an opportunity to guide the Government’s decisions on local schooling.

“I am very excited to be running as part of the Perrottet team, as this Government has shown a real commitment to taking local views and needs into account when making important decisions,” Dr von Muenster said. “Speaking to people across the local community it becomes clear that they really appreciate opportunities to guide these choices that will have a sizeable impact on future generations.”

Ms Sloane said that getting kids into a good local school is a high priority for all parents.

“Every parent wants to see their kids start off on the right foot, and getting a good education is a critical part of that. While a lot of families make their home here because of our unique character and beautiful setting, many also move here for our great schools,” Ms Sloane said. “This consultation will allow the community to put their views forward on the best way to accommodate the schooling needs of our kids.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government wants to make sure that this consultation captures the views of the whole of the Eastern Suburbs community.

“We want to engage constructively with the local school communities to ensure that we identify and plan for the best option for public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Consultation will take place throughout Term 1 in 2023, with a report to be finalised for consideration by government in mid-2023.”

The independent consultation will focus on parents, students and the wider community, with a particular emphasis on families of potential future students. It will look at short, medium and long term options to ensure the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney have strong public education options for future generations.

Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton said it’s important we start consultation with parents and have a plan moving forward with one of the three options.

“This process is about securing the future of public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs and making sure that local families always have access to a high quality public education options.

“I look forward to working with our school communities during this process when consultation gets underway early next year.”

Based on the current population projections, local schools are able to accommodate current and future student demand through utilisation of existing schools. However, the Department will continue to explore opportunities to future-proof the provision of public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs.

The NSW Government will make the practice of rent bidding illegal to improve affordability for those seeking rental accommodation amid high cost of living pressures.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said banning rent bidding would help prospective tenants secure housing in a tight rental property market in a fair way.

“It’s time to put an end to this practice and give more people security and certainty so they can plan for their future,” Mr Perrottet.  

“The search for a rental property is tough enough without it turning into a bidding war that pushes people beyond their comfort level.

“An advertised rental fee should be just that and we will take action to ensure rental bidding is outlawed.”

The outlawing of solicited rent bidding, the practice where a landlord or agent invites, suggests or asks prospective tenants to increase their offer of rent for a property in order to secure it, will be made through urgent changes to regulations under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002.

The new regulations will apply to all new listings from Saturday, 17 December 2022.

Minister for Fair Trading Victor Dominello said the reforms to regulations struck the right balance between the interests of renters, landlords and real estate agents.

“It can be very distressing for prospective tenants who have submitted a rental application only to be told to increase their offer to improve their prospects of securing a property,” Mr Dominello said. 

“From this weekend, agents will be prohibited from inducing a prospective tenant to offer an amount higher than that advertised for the property.

“Further, real estate agents cannot advertise a property unless it specifies the rent payable for the property.”

NSW Fair Trading will work with real estate agents and landlords to ensure they are aware of and comply with the new regulations. 

Advice for renters is available on the NSW Fair Trading website www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/renting.

More than 1,470 paramedics, Control Centre staff and flight nurses have been recognised today at the largest NSW Ambulance graduation ceremony since the start of COVID-19.
 
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the past two ceremonies had been postponed due to the pandemic and the event recognised all those who have completed graduate and further specialty training.
 
“Over the past few years, our paramedics, Control Centre staff and aeromedical teams have faced some tough times, but all have risen to the occasion,” Mr Hazzard said.
 
“Whether it was working through bushfires, COVID-19, floods, or the demands of a flu outbreak, all have served our community with distinction, courage and compassion.  This is a special day for those being honoured and their families. They should be very proud of their achievements and contribution in what has been a difficult few years. 
 
“In the last financial year, NSW Ambulance transported more than 750,000 patients, more than any other State or Territory, yet it leads the nation in transfer of care results,”  Mr Hazzard said.
 
NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan said the new and upskilled staff will provide a great boost in the months and years ahead.
 
“NSW Ambulance is one of the largest ambulance services in the world and an integral part of our health system, and it offers wonderful career opportunities such as our newly implemented virtual clinical care service,” Dr Morgan said.
 
“It is an organisation where you can develop and progress your own career goals, and a place where you genuinely make a difference to the lives of others every single day.”
 
Today’s ceremony also included several significant awards for leadership, as well as the Minister for Health’s $5,000 Bursary for Excellence to help fund further education.
 
NSW Ambulance has received funding from the NSW Government for 2,128 staff which includes 1,858 paramedics, 210 support staff, 52 nurses and eight doctors. 
The NSW Government will also deliver eight new stations at Warilla, Kincumber, Lisarow, Gateshead, Swansea, Cherrybrook, Raby and Narellan, with a further 22 stations to be announced over the next four years.

Local councils and a boating club from across the State will soon benefit from an injection of funds for repair and maintenance works to maritime infrastructure as part of the Boating Asset Maintenance Program.
 
Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said the NSW Government had committed almost half a million dollars to 21 boating infrastructure maintenance and repair projects which would be delivered in partnership with nine local councils and a club. 
 
“Many asset owners around the state face numerous difficulties and challenges in trying to maintain and repair boating infrastructure – particularly after the severe weather and flooding events this state has been through,” Mr Elliott said.

“The Boating Asset Maintenance Program is a new $2 million Boating Now sub-program that was announced in August 2022 to provide crucial funding to owners of boating infrastructure.
 
“We have listened to feedback and this funding will go a long way towards helping owners bring maritime infrastructure such as pontoons, wharves, jetties, boat ramps and trailer parking back to optimal condition for the safety and benefit of all users.
 
“Minor maintenance and repair work goes a long way to improving the usability of boating assets which have experienced general wear and tear over a number of years.” 
 
Councils received grants between $11,000 and $60,000 towards projects such as the replacement of deteriorated timber decking on pontoons, repair of timber railings and fixtures, renewal of line markings in car parks and trailer bays to maintenance of jetties including the re-application of anti-slip paint.
 
The successful applicants are:  
 

• Bogan Shire ($30,000) 
• City of Canada Bay ($60,000) 
• Eurobodalla Shire Council ($20,000 and $30,000 for two projects) 
• Inner West Council ($5,000, $10,000, $15,000 and $20,000 for four projects) 
• Mosman Council (two projects each worth $30,000) 
• Nambucca Valley Council ($30,000) 
• Northern Beaches Council ($16,440 and $7200 for two projects) 
• Shoalhaven City Council (S11,500, $13,000, $14,500 and $21,000 for four projects) 
• Woollahra Council ($18,708 and $30,000 for two projects)  
• the Woollahra Sailing Club ($11,000) 
•  NSW Maritime Executive Director, Mark Hutchings said the funding was vital in helping boating asset owners ensure all facilities were safe and accessible and could be enjoyed by all members of the general boating public.
   
  “The Boating Now team is looking forward to working with all successful applicants to help ensure the successful delivery of their projects,” Mr Hutchings said. 
   
  Now in its fourth round, the Liberals and Nationals Boating Now program has invested in about 330 projects since it began in 2014.

Four innovative NSW companies who are solving some of the State’s complex challenges are set to share in $5 million to help translate their research into commercial products, as part of the NSW Government’s Physical Sciences Fund. 
 
Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens announced the successful companies at an event held at Fishburners in the Sydney Startup Hub.
 
“NSW is home to some of the most brilliant researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs, who are working across a range of sectors, creating new jobs and growing our high-tech industries,” Mr Henskens said. 
 
“The Fund, now in its fourth year, exemplifies the NSW Liberals and National Government’s commitment to supporting research and development (R&D) that underpins the commercialisation of technologies.
 
“The successful recipients are developing devices and applications which will deliver real-world benefits to our State in agriculture, communications, clean energy and construction, which will help grow the economy and secure a brighter future for NSW.”
 
The Fund aims to deliver significant social, economic and environmental benefits to NSW by providing financial support across the branches of physical sciences and engineering, including physics, chemistry, astronomy and the earth sciences.
 
NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte said the Fund continues to champion the growth of innovative industries in NSW. 
 
“This year we released our 20-Year R&D Roadmap, which provides a blueprint to prioritise investment in areas where NSW has competitive R&D advantages nationally and internationally,” Professor Durrant-Whyte said. 
 
“It is great to be able to celebrate four young companies who are developing technologies with great potential and starting out on their commercialisation journey.”
 
Applications for the 2023 round will open early next year, with $10 million available through the next round of the Fund. More information about the 2022 successful funding recipients can be found online.

Irrigators will save water, time and money at the same time as protecting native fish populations now and well into the future, thanks to the NSW Government’s $20 million Fish-Friendly Water Extraction project.
 
Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Dugald Saunders said as part of the program, state-of-the-art fish protection screens would be installed on 49 water pumps across the State, not just contributing to the health of the river systems and the longevity of fish populations, but also increasing farmers’ productivity. 
 
“These modern fish screens are fitted with fine mesh and self-cleaning technology that effectively filters unwanted debris and fish out of pumps and pipes, delivering cleaner water onto properties and reducing the need for farmers to spend time unblocking sprinklers,” Mr Saunders said. 
 
“Research has shown us that these modern fish screens also protect up to 90 per cent of native fish passing through, which is critical as we continue to restock them in waterways after millions were killed during the drought.
 
“This project is a great example of how the NSW Government is supporting the agriculture industry to adopt modern, on-farm technology, translating innovative research into practical measures.”
 
Minister for Water Kevin Anderson said the fish screens would not only protect millions of native fish and the environment, but also deliver cleaner water to farms.
 
“The state-of-the-art irrigation screens will deliver 2,900 megalitres per day of cleaner water by eliminating debris from the irrigation systems,” Mr Anderson said.
 
“Farmers and properties with fish screens have already reported a range of benefits, including a reduced need to backflush, reduced costs of in-line filtration and energy savings of up to $3,000 per month.
 
“This project will also boost employment in the region, with local businesses to be engaged to assist with the screen installations. It’s about looking after the environment, farmers and businesses at the same time.”
 
NSW DPI Fisheries will manage the fish screen installation process in partnership with Water Infrastructure NSW, with construction to begin next year. 
 
The fish screening program is part of a suite of complementary measures being used to bolster native fish stocks in the northern Murray-Darling Basin, which also includes the measures to improve fish passage up and down the river. 
 
For more information about the fish screening project, visit the Fish Screens Australia website www.fishscreens.org.au

The Parramatta Light Rail has reached a major new milestone with the arrival of the first vehicle in the new fleet and construction on the light rail stops nearly complete.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the Government was continuing to deliver world-class transport to support the growing communities of Western Sydney.

“Western Sydney is one of the fastest growing regions in our country, with the population of Greater Parramatta alone set to climb by 50 per cent by 2041. That is why we are investing billions of dollars in transport and infrastructure now, to support this projected growth and ensure the region and its residents continue to thrive,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Once complete, the new Parramatta Light Rail will provide frequent, reliable transport services between Westmead and Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD, supporting residents, local businesses and the nearly 14,000 students who attend the nearby university.”

The new light rail vehicles will be fully accessible with low floors; air-conditioned; dual electric and battery-powered with roof-mounted rechargeable batteries to operate in two ‘wire free’ zones; bicycle racks; and real-time passenger count information.

Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said the majority of the main infrastructure work was now complete, with 100 per cent of track installed and construction of the light rail stops nearly complete.

“The Perrottet Government continues to deliver major transport infrastructure to our Western Sydney commuters with a transformation taking place in Greater Parramatta as the Light Rail rapidly takes shape,” Mr Elliott said. 

“The new 45-metre-long vehicle will be able to hold up to 400 passengers – the equivalent of six standard buses – taking cars off local roads and reducing traffic, giving people more time back in their day for the things they enjoy.

“It’s great to see overhead canopies for weather protection installed at 14 of the stops, with canopies to be in place at all 16 stops by the end of the year.

“Importantly, this project is providing a major boost to the local economy, supporting 5,000 local jobs and using around 4,000 tonnes of Australian steel. Silverwater-based manufacturing company Icon Metal has also been engaged to manufacture and install the prefabricated light rail stop components.”

Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said delivery of the light rail project will connect places and help locals and visitors move around and explore what Greater Parramatta has to offer.

“We’re launching a new Summer in Parramatta activation with a range of family-friendly events, including interactive street art, activities for kids of all ages and entertainment, providing a much needed economic and visitor boost for businesses,” Mr Lee said.

“This is a great opportunity for families to head outdoors and enjoy the vibrant activations revitalising the Parramatta CBD this Summer.”

The Parramatta Light Rail will provide high-frequency ‘turn-up-and-go’ light rail services seven days a week, every 7.5 minutes during peak periods (7am to 7pm) on weekdays.

On-track testing of the vehicles is expected to commence in mid-2023, with passenger services expected to commence in 2024.

For more information about the project, visit parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au.