Category: NSW News

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.

The NSW Government acknowledges the Federal Court’s decision today to dismiss the Rail, Tram and Bus Union’s application for an urgent hearing on the legality of the proposed union action to deactivate Opal card readers at rail station gates.

The Federal Court has proposed hearing dates for February or March 2023.

It is entirely unnecessary for the union to be in this position. The Government’s priority is allowing rail workers to access a fair and reasonable increase in pay and conditions by taking its offer to a vote. This offer has been negotiated with representatives of six unions during the course of 64 bargaining meetings held over more than 12 months, equating to 50,000 hours and 6,250 business days.

Once again, the NSW Government urges the rail unions to agree to put the proposed Enterprise Agreement package, including the $1.1 billion modifications to the New Intercity Fleet, bonuses for workers for accepting overtime and a one-off payment of $3,185, to a vote of its members to ensure rail workers benefit from the increased pay and generous allowances before Christmas.

The Federal budget has failed to address the national energy bill crisis while also robbing NSW residents of promised projects and funding.
 
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the Federal Labor Government had failed to help the nation’s consumers who are facing bill shock as global forces lash the National Energy Market.
 
“It’s a national problem that requires a national solution. Consumers have been shortchanged,” Mr Kean said.
 
The Federal Budget only delivered $7.5 billion in cost of living relief across the country, while the 2022-23 NSW Budget delivered $7.2 billion for NSW alone.
 
“We saw the Albanese government campaign on cost of living and a promise to slash electricity bills; tonight they barely delivered, giving people a sense of what a Labor election promise is worth,” Mr Kean said.
 
Billions in promised funding has also been stripped from NSW including $1.7 billion over four years for infrastructure projects including:
 

• $433 million for Dungowan Dam
• $75 million for the Wakehurst Parkway

“The Federation has long operated on a trust system of sharing funds between the Commonwealth and the states, making our country successful and stable,” Mr Kean said.

“Tonight the Commonwealth broke that trust and that system, doing serious damage to the NSW economy and budget.

“This means thousands of jobs won’t be created, and vital services and amenities will be put on hold.”

Commonwealth health funding projections for NSW have also been revised downwards since the March budget by $1.1 billion over the four years.

There was also no allocation of funds towards raising the Warragamba dam wall, a safety measure designed to protect the people of Western Sydney.

However, NSW welcomes the Commonwealth’s commitment to childcare, housing and climate change.

Other key funding for NSW in tonight’s Federal Budget includes:

• NSW will receive $2.9 billion for infrastructure in 2022-23, excluding pass through payments, which is $1.3 billion less than the March Budget. The Budget funds longer-term capital funding commitments including $500 million for the High Speed Rail Authority in NSW to start corridor acquisition, planning and early works for the Sydney to Newcastle High Speed Rail.
• The Commonwealth has provisioned a further $1.3 billion over the four years for Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for NSW, relating to the floods which occurred in the first half of 2022 since the March Budget.
• $4.7 billion over four years from 2022-2023 for cheaper childcare.
• $531.6 million to expand the Paid Parental Leave Scheme, transitioning from a total 20 weeks in July 2023 to 26 weeks leave by July 2026.
• $24.9 billion new climate-related spending measures over 2022-23 to 2029-30 through the Budget, aligning with the NSW Government’s priority of boosting investment in energy, climate change and sustainability.
• $324.6 million over four years from 2022-23 to establish the Help to Buy scheme to assist people on low to moderate incomes to purchase a new or existing home with an equity contribution from the Government.

A Diverging Diamond Interchange is being proposed at the Picton Road and M31 Hume Motorway interchange under a bold new plan to improve safety, reliability and efficient travel for motorists.
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward says the NSW Government is seeking feedback on the preferred option for the interchange.
 
“The Macarthur region is expanding in population faster than anywhere else across the state, which is why it is so important to have this road connection in place so families moving to the area can get to work and school,” said Mrs Ward.
 
“This innovative proposed design allows free flowing turns when exiting and entering Picton Road meaning fewer traffic light phases, making the interchange safer and more efficient for motorists.
 
“This project forms part of the broader upgrade of Picton Road between the Nepean River and the M1 Princes Motorway, which is a key link between the Macarthur Region and Greater Sydney.”
 
The NSW Government has allocated $44 million over four years for the planning of the upgrade of Picton Road and the Australian Government has committed $95.6 million to the planning of the upgrade of Picton Road and Picton bypass projects.
 
The Picton Road and M31 Hume Motorway Diverging Diamond Interchange is the second to be proposed in NSW, with one currently proposed for Australia Avenue, Homebush.
 
Member for Wollondilly Nathaniel Smith MP says the NSW Government has responded to community feedback calling for improvements on Picton Road and has spent the past 12 months developing a preferred option for the interchange.
 
“Current and future residents of Wollondilly and surrounding region will soon have an intersection that will cut travel time and provide a safer route on to the Hume Motorway,” Mr Smith said.
 
“We know there are delays, congestion, and frustration for those using the interchange which contributes to less reliable access to Picton Road. As our population continues to grow, we must be able to accommodate more traffic through the interchange.”
 
Timing and funding for major work on the new interchange, are yet to be confirmed.
 
For more information on the Picton Road upgrade, view the preferred option animation or give feedback on the Diverging Diamond Interchange visit nswroads.work/pictonupgrade.
 
If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback on the preferred option, please contact the project team via telephone 1800 290 613 or email pictonroad@transport.nsw.gov.au