Category: NSW News

NSW is the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce a new insurance product that offers 10 years’ protection for buyers of residential apartments.

Minister for Fair Trading Victor Dominello said the NSW Department of Customer Service has accepted the application of Resilience Insurance to offer decennial liability insurance as a form of security under the Strata Building Bond and Inspections Scheme.

“This is a big win for apartment owners and body corporates,” Mr Dominello said.

“Decennial liability insurance provides those living in residential apartment buildings with comprehensive consumer protection for building defects caused by substandard design and building work.

“It also provides an insurance safety net for consumers that is currently lacking in residential apartment buildings.
“Decennial liability gives power to the purchasers and body corporates, who will no longer need to prove liability and will only have to demonstrate the damage for assessment.

“For the first time in Australia, this will ensure building owners have access to a timely and straightforward remedy to remediate those defects.”

Under a decennial liability insurance scheme, developers or builders would take out a policy to cover any potential costs by an owner to fix serious defects of critical building elements for up to 10 years.

A decennial liability insurance policy would cover critical parts of a building’s common property, including the building’s structure, fire safety systems and waterproofing.

This insurance is intended to provide an insurance of first resort – allowing building owners to make a claim as soon as a defect is identified.

While this form of insurance is available in many markets around the world, it has not been offered in Australia.
NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler OAM said, “the introduction of decennial liability insurance is the latest reform to the building and construction industry which will improve the design and construction of apartment buildings in NSW.

“These reforms have come about due to the united commitment of government and industry to transform the NSW construction sector.

“NSW is now in the position of being a national leader in offering an insurance product of this type for Class 2 buildings because of the three years of conscious effort and commitment by Government and industry to the journey we have been on under Construct NSW.

“We’re looking to clean up the market and bring an end to expensive litigations against developers who have deep pockets or subsequently vanish into thin air.”

To support the broader rollout of this critical consumer protection for NSW apartment building owners, a regulatory impact statement is being prepared for consultation on the proposal to mandate decennial liability insurance for residential apartment building developments, following a transitional period that will support NSW’s creation of a mature and affordable decennial liability insurance market.

Other reforms have included the introduction of the Design and Building Practitioners Act to ensure competent designs and builders are undertaking compliant work and the Residential Apartment Building (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act to give the building regulator comprehensive powers to respond to defective building work.

Consumers in NSW also have the benefit of the industry-led Independent Construction Industry Rating Tool (iCIRT), a five-star system to rate the trustworthiness of builders, certifiers and developers.

The NSW Government has announced the $360 million Net Zero Industry and Innovation Investment Plan to support and partner with manufacturing and mining sectors to reduce emissions and boost resilience.
 
Minister for Energy Matt Kean said the investment will help the highest emitting industries accelerate their shift to net zero, while continuing to grow jobs and the economy.  It will also play a critical role supporting the establishment of new low carbon industries.
 
“Almost 30 per cent of carbon emissions in NSW are created by the top 55 industrial facilities, so partnering with them is critical to achieving our emissions reduction targets,” Mr Kean said.
 
“This funding will support NSW’s highest emitting and hardest to abate manufacturing and mining facilities to significantly decarbonise and make the industries more resilient as the world shifts to net zero.
 
“The Net Zero Industry and Innovation Investment Plan aims for a significant reduction of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 – equal to taking 10 million cars off the road for a year.
 
“By accelerating decarbonisation and the development of clean technology, we will expand the economy, support jobs, and significantly reduce emissions, helping NSW businesses prosper in a low carbon world.”
 
This funding is a cornerstone of the NSW Net Zero Plan to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.
 
The investment plan outlines the funding priorities for the next two years under two focus areas – high emitting industries and new low carbon industry foundations.
 
Read the investment plan here: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/Net-Zero-Industry-and-Innovation-Investment-Plan

Preschools across the state are preparing to be part of the NSW Government’s landmark $1.3 billion Affordable Preschool Program providing cost of living relief from the beginning of 2023.  
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell today confirmed new Start Strong funding guidelines, which outline how early childhood services across the state will support families in giving their children the best start to life through affordable preschool.
 
“With cost-of-living pressures being felt across Australia, the Liberals and Nationals in Government are reducing stress for families across NSW by providing immediate fee relief,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“Through the NSW Government’s Start Strong program we will improve the affordability of early childhood education, improve quality, boost outcomes for children, and see enrolments and attendance increase in the years before school.”
 
From January 2023, all NSW families will be eligible for:
 

• up to $4,220 per year in fee relief for 3, 4 and 5-year-olds attending a community or mobile preschool,
• up to $2,110 per year in fee relief for 4 and 5-year-olds attending preschool in a long day care setting on top of their Child Care Subsidy payment, and
• the equivalent of 5 days a fortnight of affordable preschool fee relief for all children in Department of Education preschools. 

“For the first time, the NSW Government is extending fee-relief to NSW families whose children attend preschool in a long day care setting, because at the end of the day what’s important is our littlest learners having access to great quality preschool programs,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Research shows that children who participate in quality play-based education programs before they start school have improved lifelong educational, social and economic outcomes.

“This is why we are extending fee relief to support more families and enable more children to participate in a quality early childhood education.” 

The NSW Government is investing more than $15.9 billion in early childhood commitments announced as part of the 2022-23 budget to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW. Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiatives, a workforce package for early childhood educators and the Affordable Preschools subsidies, the NSW Liberal & National Government is ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.
 
You can find out more about the Early Years Commitment at education.nsw.gov.au/early-years-commitment. 

Construction has kicked off at Cowper Street, Glebe with a new social housing development that is transforming 19 aged dwellings into a modern complex of 75 new inner-city apartments and terrace houses.
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said demolition of the former site was completed earlier this year, with the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) partnering with Kane Constructions to complete the work.
 
“This eight-storey renewal project will deliver three studios, 40 one-bedroom and 27 two-bedroom apartments, along with five three-bedroom terrace homes for larger families,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“LAHC is working to boost social housing across the City of Sydney LGA, and Cowper Street is just one of three development sites in Glebe that will see social housing increased from 144 dwellings to around 250 in coming years.”
 
Minister for Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said Cowper Street is due for completion in mid-2024.
 
“This project will be home to around 130 new social housing residents, while creating 170 jobs during the life of the project,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“The NSW Government is committed to delivering social and affordable housing to those in our community who need it most. We know that safe and stable accommodation is vital for people to get back on their feet and access services and support to strive for a brighter future.”
 
Inspired by historic woolstore buildings and Glebe’s iconic Victorian terraces, the development was designed by award-winning Sydney architectural firm Johnson Pilton Walker with the Prince’s Trust Australia supporting the development’s sustainability and traditional design outcomes.
 
Prince’s Trust Australia Chair, the Hon Julie Bishop said Prince’s Trust Australia is proud to support young people and provide opportunities for apprentices to build their skills on this project.
 
“This development will use many sustainable building practices such as recycled bricks, solar panels to power the homes and structural timber framing,” Ms Bishop said. 
 
“We commend Land and Housing Corporation on its work to boost social housing across Sydney.
 
“Prince’s Trust Australia is committed to environmental sustainability and building communities  – we are also working to help locals rebuild a community hall on Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island, after the devastating Black Summer bushfires.”
 
The development will be called The Prince’s Quarter, to reflect the partnership with Prince’s Trust Australia. The building names will be announced at a later date.
 
For more information please visit https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/land-and-housing-corporation/greater-sydney/glebe

With just over a week until NSW bans more single-use plastics, Minister for Environment James Griffin has joined dozens of citizen science scuba divers and snorkelers in a community effort to clean up Sydney Harbour and highlight exactly why the bans are needed.
 
After donning a wetsuit and snorkeling gear to collect plastic litter from Sydney Harbour, Minister for Environment James Griffin said the ban on single-use plastics is just the beginning of a massive shift away from single-use plastics in NSW.
 
“In June, we banned lightweight single-use plastic bags and from 1 November, we’re banning some of the most commonly littered single-use plastic items, including cutlery, plates, bowls, straws, and polystyrene food ware,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“About 95 per cent of the litter on beaches and waterways comes from suburban streets, and single-use plastic items and packaging make up two thirds of all litter in NSW.
 
“We know from Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) data that Manly Cove is among the worst beaches in the country for microplastic pollution, with research finding more than 850 pieces of microplastic per square metre.
 
“This is exactly why we must end our reliance on single-use plastic, and why the NSW bans are critical for changing behavior and improving the state of our environment for the benefit of biodiversity and future generations.”
 
The Dive Against Debris event at Manly Cove saw dozens of concerned citizens don scuba gear and snorkels before heading below the surface to collect plastic waste and debris from Sydney Harbour.
 
Dive Against Debris was founded in 1995 by Dive Centre Manly’s Richard Nicholls and has grown into the world’s largest Citizen Science marine project.
 
Now thousands of PADI dive centres regularly conduct underwater plastic clean-ups across the globe, with an estimated 250,000 divers worldwide gathering important data about the scope of the plastic pollution problem.
 
“Sydney Harbour is choking on plastic so it’s absolutely fantastic that the NSW Government is banning many single-use plastics,” Mr Nicholls said.
 
“Marine mammals and fish are dying through plastic ingestion and entanglement, and items are breaking down into microplastics that end up in the human food chain. It’s shocking and we have to stop it.”
 
From 1 November, the NSW Government is banning single-use items including:

• plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, chopsticks, plates, bowls and cotton buds
• food ware and cups made from expanded polystyrene
• rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads.

 
This comes after lightweight single-use plastic bags were banned from 1 June.
 
The NSW Government bans will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in the State over the next 20 years.
 
Since February, the National Retail Association (NRA) has, on behalf of the NSW Government, been providing education and support to more than 40,000 businesses and community organisations around the State to implement the changes.
 
Educational material and in-person advice has also been provided in more than 15 different languages to support business owners and communities with diverse backgrounds.
 
The NSW Government has partnered with Great Plastic Rescue to collect excess stock from wholesalers, distributors, retailers, businesses and not-for-profits for recycling and remanufacturing into new items.
 
In September, the NSW Government launched the Stop it and Swap it advertising campaign, featuring shocking images of plastic pollution in the ocean and a turtle choking on a plastic bag, as an important reminder about why the state is banning certain single-use plastics.
 
For more information about the NSW Government’s single use plastic bans, visit http://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics-ban
 
The single-use plastic ban media kit is available here.

More than 500 new fast and ultra-fast charging bays are set to be built across NSW to recharge electric vehicles (EVs) in just 15 minutes.
 
Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean announced the NSW Government is investing $39.4 million in the first round of Fast Charging Grants to co-fund 86 new fast and ultra-fast EV charging stations, each with four to 15 bays.
 
“This investment will see the largest, fastest and most comprehensive public EV charging network in Australia,” Mr Kean said.
 
“Each of these stations will contain a minimum of two ultra-fast EV charging bays of 350kW capacity, and two fast charging bays of 175kW, with some stations containing up to 15 bays.
 
“The ultra-fast chargers will be able to charge modern EVs from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in around 15 minutes and all stations will be fully powered with renewable energy.
 
“This is the first of an expected three funding rounds, with hundreds more stations set to be built over the coming years.”
 
The successful applicants from this round are Ampol, BP, Evie Networks, Tesla, the NRMA and Zeus Renewables.
 
All stations will be built over the next 24 months with a mix of highway and inner-city sites.
 
The NSW Government has a target to add approximately 250 fast and ultra-fast charging stations in total across NSW, ensuring chargers are no more than 5km apart in metropolitan areas and no more than 100km apart on major roads and highways across NSW.
 
The second round of co-funding is expected to open towards the end of this year.
 
Maps of the charging stations are available by visiting: https://bit.ly/3SlrazH

Creating the next generation of leaders in STEM is the focus of the proposed new Science and Technology syllabuses unveiled today for consultation. 
 
It comes as part of the NSW Government’s ongoing delivery of the most comprehensive Curriculum Reform in a generation.      
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the new syllabuses have been reshaped to align with current in-field evidence that will best equip students for success in a modern, digital and connected world.         
“We know that it is vital that students can apply their knowledge in the day-to-day. Through these syllabuses, students will benefit from more tangible learning experiences that give them the chance to study real-world challenges, setting them up as the next generation of world leaders in STEM,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“Ultimately, the new syllabuses have been designed to better prepare young people for further study and career pathways in STEM.”         
The draft Science syllabus for Years 7 to 10 includes new contemporary topics on data science and investigating scientific evidence, as well as a greater focus on environmental sustainability and energy based on the latest evidence.          
Key changes include:        

• More explicit focus on applying knowledge and skills, with students applying classroom learning to real-world challenges and opportunities.
• A greater focus on essential knowledge and skills removing ambiguity and better supporting teacher planning.
• Increased connections between science and mathematics to support learning across the curriculum.
• Greater links to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander historical and contemporary uses of science and technologies.
• Greater focus on developing students’ writing skills for scientific purposes.
• Life Skills components of the syllabus provide greater opportunities for students with intellectual disability to extend their literacy, numeracy and communication skills in authentic learning contexts.

 
Additionally, a new draft Technology syllabus for Years 7 to 8 builds on an already strong syllabus with a greater focus on digital literacy, cyber security and online safety.

The public can have their say on the draft Technology 7-8 syllabus until 21 November 2022 and on the Science and Drama 7–10 syllabuses until 5 December 2022:           www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/about/news/consultations 

The Hornsby community is set to benefit from a super-sized emergency department, roof-top helipad and Australia’s first public hospital robotic pharmacy among the first-class services at the newly redeveloped $265 million Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government is delivering a first-class health facility to cater for the needs of local residents now and into the future as the community continues to grow.
 
“We are making the right investments in communities across the State to strengthen our frontline services so we can deliver what people need sooner and closer to home,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“This $265 million hospital redevelopment will ensure our frontline health workers have the best facilities and equipment in the country and help secure a brighter future for NSW families.”
 
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the expanded emergency department had already been put to the test during the Omicron outbreak, providing safe, high-quality care to local residents.
 
“The new emergency department is three times the size of the previous ED and has purpose-built isolation rooms for patients who may be infectious, as well as a separate emergency unit for children,” Mr Hazzard said.
 
“The entire facility is world-class – from the entrance to the new outpatients department, intensive care unit and the first public hospital robotic pharmacy in Australia.”
 
Treasurer and Member for Hornsby Matt Kean said following feedback from clinicians and residents, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital now boasts a roof-top helipad to enable faster and safer medical transfers of critically ill patients.
 
“From the upsized emergency department to the world-class medical facilities for children, our hospital upgrade is what the people of Hornsby need and deserve,” Mr Kean said.
 
“A facility like this will deliver amazing care and treatment for the community and serve them for generations to come.”
 
The new Clinical Services Building includes:

• A combined Intensive Care and High Dependency Unit;
• Combined Respiratory/Cardiac and Coronary Care beds co-located with a Cardiac Investigations Unit;
• Ambulatory Care Centre (Outpatients Department);
• Medical Imaging;
• Paediatrics;
• Medical Assessment Unit;
• Inpatients Units (including general medicine, rehabilitation, stroke and dementia/delirium beds);
• Helipad; and
• Co-located education space with The University of Sydney.

 
Member for Ku-ring-gai Alister Henskens said the upgrades will continue to strengthen local health services, attract more clinical staff and ensure the community has access to high quality healthcare closer to home.
 
“These new health facilities have been designed in consultation with health and support staff as well as community representatives, ensuring they meet the health needs of our whole community, including seniors and those raising a family,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“Even more improvements are on the way, with Stage 2A of the project expected to be complete by the end of the year. The new building will include oral health and community health services, such as chemotherapy and renal dialysis.”
 
Since 2011, the NSW Government has invested over $440 million in Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital.
 
Since 2011, the NSW Government has delivered more than 180 hospitals and health facilities across NSW, with more than 130 currently underway – of those almost 70 per cent are in rural and regional areas. The NSW Government has committed $11.9 billion to future health infrastructure projects over the four years to 2025-26.
 
To view the new hospital and hear about its innovation, view the video here.

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government wants to hear from the community to fine tune the design for the East and West sections of the Great Western Highway Upgrade.
 
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the final design for the game-changing upgrade was edging closer, with major construction on track to start on the West section early next year.
 
“The Great Western Highway upgrade is fast becoming a reality. This is another chance for the community to shape this legacy project by providing their feedback on the updated designs for both sections,” Mr Toole said. 
 
“Changes between Little Hartley and the Lithgow section will provide better connections that will make travelling between the east and the west easier and safer, and will include improvements to service roads and a second over-bridge.
 
“Locals wanting to travel between Little Hartley and Victoria Pass will be able to cross over the upgraded highway without having to contend with the highway traffic.
 
“Pedestrians and cyclists will also benefit, with the shared path to now start at an upgraded Berghofer’s Pass carpark and extend to Hartley historic village.”
 
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the latest designs incorporated community feedback and will be on display for further feedback until 20 November.
 
“For the Katoomba to Blackheath ‘East’ section, one of the key design changes includes extending the carriageway towards Blackheath to improve connectivity and provide safer access between the upgraded highway and the existing Great Western Highway,” Mr Farraway said.
 
“An extension to the shared path access track has also been brought forward into the East section, connecting through to Valley View Road at Blackheath.
 
“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government are building the infrastructure that matters to make daily life easier for the thousands of motorists who use the Great Western Highway each day.”
 
>ou can view the updated designs at nswroads.work/gwh.
 
The West section design will be available at Lithgow City Council Administration Centre, Lithgow Library Learning Centre and Hartley Fresh & Café. The East section design will be available at Blue Mountains City Council Administration Centre and Blackheath Community Centre.
 
Information sessions will be held so the community can talk to the design team:

• Katoomba to Blackheath design changes and Medlow Bath REF determination presentation and Q&A
  • Tuesday 1 November, 6:00-7:30pm, online
  • Tuesday 8 November, 5:00-7:00pm, Hydro Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath
• Little Hartley to Lithgow design changes
  • Thursday 3 November, 6:00-7:30pm, online
  • Wednesday 9 November, 6:00-7:30pm, Hartley Community Hall

Registrations for all sessions or a request for a phone consultation should be made online at nswroads.work/gwh or by phone to 1800 953 777.

Community members can provide feedback on the updated designs:

• online at nswroads.work/gwhwestconsult
• by email to gwhd@transport.nsw.gov.au
• by mail to Great Western Highway Upgrade Program, PO Box 334, Parkes NSW 2870

 
The updated designs are now on display for community feedback until 20 November.
 
The REF Submissions Reports for the Katoomba to Blackheath, Medlow Bath and Little Hartley to Lithgow REF submissions reports are available for viewing on nswroads.work/gwh.
 
For more information on the project, visit nswroads.work/gwh

City of Newcastle (CN) has kicked off significant environmental works at a former landfill site that took waste from across the Hunter for more than 20 years.

The remediation of the Astra Street site at Shortland, which operated from 1974 to 1995, is one of four city-shaping projects included in this year’s record $132 million capital works program.

City of Newcastle’s 2022/23 Budget included $18.6 million to protect the Ramsar-listed Hunter Wetlands by remediating and improving environmental management of the former Astra Street landfill.

The project will include capping and reprofiling, drainage improvements to manage surface water and sediment runoff and revegetation and landscaping, with the works expected to be completed by mid-2024.

Newcastle councillors recently visited the 37-hectare site to inspect the early works and discuss the project’s long-term benefits, including the protection and maintenance of the local environment, safeguarding the water quality of surrounding wetlands and aquatic ecosystems, and increasing biodiversity values to promote long-term native vegetation growth.

City of Newcastle Executive Director City Infrastructure Joanne Rigby said CN is committed to ensuring sites like Astra Street, are managed with the environment front-of-mind.

“We’ve been working alongside the Environment Protection Authority on a landfill closure plan for the Astra Street site to ensure it adheres to environmental standards,” Ms Rigby said.

“This project is an important priority for protecting the long-term health of the nearby Ramsar-listed Hunter Wetlands and surrounding waterways and shows our commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of our current and former waste management operations.”

The existing 20-year-old capping and drainage will be improved through the delivery of new clay capping in accordance with environmental requirements.