Category: NSW News

More than $2 billion is being invested in school infrastructure in communities across Western Sydney, with the Wentworth Point community joining this list as work starts on the new high school. 

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell joined Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee today to mark the start of construction with the turning of the first sod. 

Ms Mitchell said the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government are continuing to invest in Sydney’s growing communities such as Wentworth Point.  

“Our government is delivering the biggest investment in public education infrastructure, with communities across Western Sydney benefiting from access to new and upgraded schools,” Ms Mitchell said.  

“We are committed to ensuring our students have every opportunity to achieve their potential with world-class learning facilities and soon families in Wentworth Point will be able to access a new, local high school.” 

The new multi-million dollar high school will include flexible learning spaces, a multipurpose hall for sports and performances, outdoor spaces including landscaped recreation areas, games courts and canteen facilities.  

Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said the NSW Government has a proven track record when it comes to infrastructure delivery in Western Sydney.  

“Thanks to this governments efforts and partnerships with communities we have been able to replace the 90 schools Labor closed as we continue to deliver for communities across Western Sydney,” Mr Elliott said. 

Mr Lee said the Wentworth Point community is excited to see the project come to fruition.  

“This is such an important project for the community and I am pleased that the NSW Government is delivering for Western Sydney,” Mr Lee said.   

“It is great to be here and turn the official sod that will benefit students for generations to come.  

The NSW Government is delivering more than 50 new and upgraded schools in Western Sydney, part of an investment of $8.6 billion in school infrastructure over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver 160 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This builds on the more than $9.1 billion invested in projects delivered since 2017, a program of $17.7 billion in public education infrastructure. 

Encouraging more diverse housing, prioritising infrastructure delivery, and revitalising the night-time economy are features of an updated vision for the Central Coast.
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts released the finalised Central Coast Regional Plan 2041 today, which will guide the region’s future over the next 20 years and responds to community feedback.
 
“With the region’s population expected to grow by almost 57,000 by 2041, there’s no surprise this booming community is facing housing pressures,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“Our blueprint identifies actions to boost local housing stock, including encouraging innovative solutions such as tiny homes and 3D-printed housing, and establishing an Urban Development Program Committee to oversee the plan’s implementation.
 
“The Committee will also monitor the housing supply pipeline and facilitate infrastructure coordination to unlock development-ready land, enabling industry to build more homes in the right areas.
 
“The Central Coast is one of four areas where Urban Development Programs will be rolled out in response to recommendations made by the Regional Housing Taskforce, with Upper Hunter, Mid-Coast, and the Canberra Region also set to benefit.”
 
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch said the plan includes initiatives to promote sustainability, improve the night-time economy, and enhance connections to public space.
 
“Meeting our net zero emissions by 2050 target will be prioritised in all planning decisions, as well as ensuring the daily needs of residents can be accessed within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from where they live, reducing reliance on cars,” Mr Crouch said.
 
“It also highlights strategies to help Aboriginal communities better control the destiny of their land, direct development away from important environmental areas, improve the water quality of Tuggerah Lakes, and expand the Coastal Open Space System.
 
“The finalised plan also includes objectives to revamp the Central Coast’s nightlife, such as offering more after-hours activities, and allowing shops, cafes, galleries and museums to open their doors for longer in popular tourist towns.”
 
To view the blueprint, visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/centralcoast2041
 

The NSW Government is trialing new, innovative ways to plug potholes faster than ever before during extreme weather events.
 
Unprecedented heavy rain this year has seen more than 152,000 potholes filled across the state since the start of March, including almost 18,500 on Sydney roads alone – the equivalent of re-sheeting the Sydney Cricket Ground 35 times.
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said extreme weather created a huge challenge for road maintenance crews who have already fixed four times the number of potholes compared to last year.
 
“The NSW Government is committed to making sure our roads are safe and reliable, which is why we are exploring new ways to fill our potholes faster and make sure the repairs last longer,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“One of the biggest challenges facing repair crews using traditional repair methods is the need to wait until the road is dry before being able to fill a pothole. The prolonged wet weather also increases the risk of the same pothole re-forming.
 
“We’ve been used a new ‘cold mix’ product on some of our worst potholes and it has already produced outstanding results – our road crews have not needed to refill a single pothole since they started using this product.”
 
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the NSW Government was collaborating with industry on a trial of a range of ‘cold mix’ materials to see which were more effective during severe weather.
 
“We’ve asked the experts for solutions and new technology we can foster to patch up potholes faster when it’s cold and wet,” Mr Farraway said.
 
“Our crews have fixed more than 135,000 potholes on the State’s regional roads in NSW since the first wave of severe weather in February.
 
“We are responding as fast as possible when the weather conditions allow for road crews to undertake repairs.
 
“We’re also hiring more than 80 new full time workers to help with the delivery of the $19.4 billion regional roads and transport pipeline during the most significant La Nina event the state has faced.”
 
Local councils are responsible for fixing local roads. If you see a pothole on your local road, please report it to the local council or online at nswroads.work/reportdamage

People most vulnerable to COVID-19 will continue to be supported in protecting themselves against the virus with the NSW Government extending free access to Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to 31 January next year.
 
Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the NSW Government shows the Government’s continued commitment to keeping those most vulnerable to the virus safe.
 
“It’s essential that people who need it most are able to take the test when they feel sick or exposed to the virus, to help with early detection and treatment ,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said. 
 
“We want to help ease the cost of living pressures on the community in any way we can, and RATs are an added cost vulnerable communities should not have to worry about.”
 
The NSW Government has already made millions of tests available to vulnerable and multicultural communities, homelessness services, social housing tenants, children and young people in out-of-home care, and Commonwealth Concession Card holders.
 
Minister for Multiculturalism and Minister for Seniors Mark Coure said this is again the NSW Government filling a gap that was left by the Federal Government after it ditched its program in July this year.
 
“The extension of this program is about doing the right thing for those most vulnerable to COVID-19—not leaving them behind,” Mr Coure said.
 
“We want people to be focusing on spending time with loved ones as we approach the holiday period, not worrying about accessing RATs and extending this program is the key to helping them do that.”
 
Eligible Commonwealth Concession Card holders in NSW can access a further 10 Rapid Antigen Tests over three months until 31 January 2023.
 
Tests are available through 210 neighbourhood and community centres, and Service NSW centres across the state. To find one near you, visit www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/rapid-tests.  

Aspiring entrepreneurs will be supported through their startup journey, thanks to a new program which will provide them with the skillset needed to commercialise their ideas and develop successful deep tech businesses. 
 
Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens said the Deep Tech Commercialisation Training Program will ensure research-led ideas are translated into financially viable businesses which will deliver social, environmental and economic benefits to NSW.
 
“Most deep tech companies are built on new and unproven technology that have the potential to change people’s lives, but they struggle to navigate the ‘valley of death’,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“By helping companies gain a clearer commercialisation perspective and a stronger appreciation of factors such as market analysis, supply chain issues and customer engagement, this program will help them secure later stage capital and remain in NSW while they grow and scale.
 
“This program continues on our commitment to support research and development so we can be a world leader in translating research into economic outcomes that deliver a brighter future for our State.”
 
The NSW Government is partnering with Sydney-based incubator Cicada Innovations, which designed and will deliver the program.
 
Cicada Innovations CEO Sally-Ann Williams said that NSW has the opportunity to be a global epicentre for innovation.
 
“As the home of deep tech in Australia for over two decades, we understand the commercial pathways to take ideas from the lab to global markets,” Ms Williams said.
 
“By working alongside the NSW Government to deliver this program we will support the best emerging deep tech ventures in NSW, and help them navigate turning breakthrough science and technology into sustainable business that positively impact Australia and the world.”
 
More information about the Program and how to register is available online.

The NSW Environmental Trust has awarded $6.3 million in grants to clean technology research and development projects to support emissions cuts in high-emitting or hard-to-abate industries to 2030 and beyond.
 
The four projects are part of a $40 million research and development program which includes solar-powered production of e‑kerosene for sustainable aviation fuel and development of copper-based solar modules to cut electricity costs.
 
Minister for Energy Matt Kean said NSW has a track record of developing global clean tech success stories, pointing to UNSW’s world leading solar research and development.
 
“NSW has a once in a generation opportunity to export the ideas and creations of our best and brightest to the rest of the world,” Mr Kean said.
 
“Investing in clean technology not only creates new pathways to reduce emissions across hard to abate parts of our own economy, it creates new markets for our researchers and entrepreneurs to develop and grow their businesses.”
 
The successful applicants are:

• Sundrive Solar received $3 million to further develop their solar cell technology that replaces high-cost silver with copper, which is significantly cheaper.
• Hysata received $1.5 million to support development of a new type of simple, cheap and highly efficient water electrolyser that promises to deliver the world’s lowest cost ‘green’ hydrogen which is considered vital to achieving net zero emissions in the global economy.
• Southern Green Gas received $1 million to develop a solar powered e‐kerosene production module for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for the hard‐to‐abate aviation sector. 
• Quickstep Technologies received $803,000 to develop a carbon fibre filament winder system in NSW to build Type IV hydrogen tanks for ground transportation and aviation applications.

 
Round 2 of the grants will open on Monday, 31 October 2022, with up to $14 million available for funding. The funding will be available for individual grants of between $400,000 and $3,000,000.
 
To learn more about these projects, click here.

Applications are now open for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services across NSW who are looking to improve their facilities and education offerings to support NSW children.  

The NSW Government is investing $21 million through the revamped Quality and Participation Grants to support eligible early childhood education services improve learning environments, increase community outreach and meet costs associated with implementing recent reforms. 

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life by providing them with quality early childhood education. 

“These grants provide services with up to $15,000 to purchase equipment, undertake outdoor renovations and improve learning resources and materials,” Ms Mitchell said.  

“The Quality and Participation Grants help services increase access and participation for vulnerable children, and improve learning environments to lift the experiences of all children.  

“We know how beneficial a quality early childhood education is, and we are supporting  services to provide the best environments for our preschoolers to grow and learn in. ” 

Applications for the Quality and Participation Grants are open now and close on 14 November 2022. 

More information, including further eligibility criteria, can be found at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/operating-an-early-childhood-education-service/grants-and-funded-programs/quality-and-participation-grants-program

Wollondilly residents will benefit from a state-of-the-art performing arts centre, a range of new community hubs, better local traffic connections and sports facilities as part of the $5 billion WestInvest Fund.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Matt Kean, Minister for Western Sydney David Elliott and Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman today announced more than $21 million in WestInvest funding to Wollondilly Shire Council for nine transformational projects:

• $5.2 million for the Dudley Chesham Masterplan 1^st Stage project to deliver a multiuse community facility to replace the existing sportsground complex
• $3.5 million towards the $22.3 million Wollondilly Community Cultural and Civic Precinct Performing Arts Centre project for an enhanced auditorium fit out
• $3.5 million for the Thirlmere Hall Refurbishment project to transform the non-operational Thirlmere Hall into a new community hall
• $2.7 million for the Footpath and Shared Path Program to upgrade multiple paths across six communities to create safer and more accessible links
• $1.8 million for the Appin Park Community Space project to transform an existing single use facility into a multifunctional space
• $1.7 million for the Renew and Upgrade Oakdale Hall project to deliver a new accessible community facility
• $1.4 million for the Warragamba Netball Courts project for four new netball courts in the Waterboard Oval sporting precinct
• $1 million for the Railside Ave Main Street Upgrade in Bargo project to design and construct a roadside parking and travel rest location
• $500,000 for The Oaks Hall project to refurbish the existing facility to deliver an important community hub.

 
Wollondilly Shire Council is contributing $18.8 million towards the Wollondilly Community Cultural and Civic Precinct Performing Arts Centre project.
 
Mr Perrottet said the Wollondilly Community Cultural and Civic Precinct Performing Arts Centre, which is on track to begin construction in January, will attract artists, performers and art lovers to the area.
 
“WestInvest funding will go towards an enhanced fit-out of the auditorium contained within the performing arts centre,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
Mr Kean said the centre will receive upgraded kitchen facilities and retractable theatre seating to enable the auditorium to be reconfigured for a wide range of activities.
 
“This beautiful, architecturally-designed building will cater to the local creative community, attracting professional theatre productions, school performance recitals, gala and charity dinners and large scale conferences,” Mr Kean said.
 
Mr Elliott said WestInvest would fund five new and upgraded community hubs, providing a place for people to gather.
 
“The community hub is the heart of small communities and these projects will allow the tight-knit local communities in Wollondilly to gather for social occasions and events,” Mr Elliott said.
 
Mrs Tuckerman said the footpath and shared path program will also fund multiple paths across six communities to ensure these connections are safer and more accessible.
 
“This project, combined with the Railside Avenue Main Street Upgrade project in Bargo, will deliver important local traffic improvements in the area,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
 
Member for Wollondilly Nathaniel Smith said the WestInvest Fund will totally transform Wollondilly through investment in open spaces, sporting venues, community halls and performance centres.
 
“The NSW Liberal Nationals Government is making Wollondilly a better place to live,” Mr Smith said.
 
Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould said thanks to the WestInvest funding, the council can undertake important projects that will enhance Wollondilly’s historic townships and villages.
 
“This significant investment will help strengthen our communities through upgrading community halls, renewing community facilities and constructing key connecting footpaths,” Cr Gould said.
 
“This is exactly what our community needs to help increase its sense of connection and encourage positive health and wellbeing.”
 
As part of the WestInvest Fund, $2 billion was reserved for priority Community Projects. This included $400 million for 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in West and South West Sydney, with each local council eligible for between $20 million and $35 million, depending on population size. Announcements on other LGAs will be made soon.
 
The $5 billion WestInvest program was made possible by the Government’s successful WestConnex asset recycling strategy. A further $1.6 billion from the $2 billion Community Project Grants is available to local community groups. A total of $3 billion is also set aside to deliver transformational projects that will benefit local communities, led by NSW Government agencies.
 
To find out more about WestInvest visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/westinvest

The NSW Government will turbocharge economic activity in the regions, with a new strategy targeting attraction of $1 billion in private sector investment and the creation of 15,000 high-value jobs over the next five years.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole, who was at the Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct today, said there has never been a better time to invest in regional NSW.

“We’ve laid the foundations with more than $12 billion of investment in the infrastructure our regions needed to grow – and now we’re ready to hit turbocharge,” Mr Toole said.

“Our Regional Investment Attraction Strategy is aimed at harnessing the full value of the regions’ potential and making them the location of choice for private sector investment.

“The regions are already home to big businesses from around the world and small businesses that are world leading. We want to continue building on that with initiatives like our Special Activation Precincts and Renewable Energy Zones which are encouraging more businesses to look to the bush to create jobs for the future.”

Mr Toole said the five-year strategy is underpinned by the $145 million Regional Investment Activation Program that includes $110 million in grant funding, currently open, to support businesses and investors looking to expand or set up in regional NSW.

“The sky’s the limit – and we want to co-invest with businesses from across Australia and around the world to set up and deliver game-changing projects in regional NSW,” Mr Toole said.

“This will support new and emerging industries where regional NSW has a competitive edge and put our communities in the box seat for the future.”

The Regional Investment Attraction Strategy 2022-2027 and grant program will prioritise investment to accelerate growth in priority precincts and engine industries such as manufacturing, clean energy, circular economy, defence and agri-food.

Grant applications are now open at www.nsw.gov.au/RIAF. Stream 1 Expressions of Interest close 14 November 2022.

For a copy of the Regional NSW Investment Attraction Strategy 2022-2027, visit www.nsw.gov.au/investregionalnsw.

The New South Wales and Victorian Governments are joining forces to deliver world-class health facilities for people in and around Albury-Wodonga, partnering to deliver a $558 million redevelopment of the Albury Base Hospital. 

Stages 1 to 3 of this major project will provide a massive boost to patient care – improving services and making it easier for locals to get the care they need in one location.

NSW and Victoria will each invest $225 million, adding to $108 million already invested by the New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments towards the $558 million project.

The redevelopment will include a new Clinical Services Building to be built at the existing Albury campus, bringing all services together at a state-of-the-art site, expanding the range and complexity of services offered to provide the best care for people who live on the border.

It will deliver critically important health care, including an intensive care unit, maternity services and paediatric services – providing the best and most modern hospital for the community.

The site will include a new helipad with direct access to the ICU and the emergency department, neonatal care and new operating theatres for more surgery, as well as a new 32-bed mental health ward to replace the Nolan House Mental Health Unit and the expansion of outpatient and specialist spaces for treatments such as dialysis.

The major investment will also help the hospital become a regional health hub with the ability to attract and train skilled and specialised medical, nursing, allied health and support staff.

Part of the first stage of the project includes building a new multi-level carpark on an adjacent site, allowing the new Clinical Services Building to be constructed on the site of the current carpark.

Currently hospital services in Albury-Wodonga are split across two campuses, with some services – such as anaesthetics – duplicated at both sites, while others require patients to travel back and forth between campuses to get the care they need.

This investment will mean local families can now get the care they need, all in the one location.

The existing Albury Base Hospital will continue to operate throughout construction. Once the hospital services currently being delivered at the Wodonga campus have been transferred to the Albury Base Hospital.

The NSW and Victorian Governments will work with the community and Albury-Wodonga Health to redevelop the Wodonga campus into a facility that will meet the needs of the community.

Construction on the new hospital is expected to commence in 2024 and be completed by 2027, with the works creating more than 1,000 jobs – boosting employment opportunities for border locals. Both governments will work closely with Albury Wodonga Health to ensure full services continue to operate at the existing hospital during construction.

Earlier this year, construction started on the new emergency department and short stay unit at Albury Wodonga Health’s Albury campus – which includes 42 treatment spaces, a specialised resuscitation hub, paediatric treatment area, acute treatment area, and multiple triage rooms with their own accompanying waiting rooms.