Category: NSW News

People across NSW are being urged to tune into their mental health and reach out to the many available services if they need support, this World Mental Health Day.
 
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor is encouraging people to pause and take a moment today to consider how they are feeling.
 
“We may often neglect our mental health to prioritise other areas of our busy lives, so this World Mental Health Day I’m encouraging everyone to take some time to check in with yourself,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
“By taking just a few moments out of the day to focus on yourself, your environment and how you are feeling, you’re already taking small but beneficial steps to support your mental health and wellbeing.”
 
NSW Chief Psychiatrist, Dr Murray Wright, said World Mental Health Day is also a good opportunity to refocus on the things we can do that are good for our mental health.
 
“Working on your mental health gets easier and better with practice, so it is really important to have an awareness of what you can do to feel better,” Dr Wright said.
 
“This could be doing some exercise, taking time for reflection, getting good rest and maintaining social connections with family, friends and colleagues.
 
“We know that once you begin to open up to a trusted person, small chats can lead to really important conversations. Most importantly, if you need help, make sure you reach out for it, whether through your family, friends or mental health services.”
 
More information about Mental Health services and support is available here.
 
The NSW Government announced a record $2.9 billion investment into mental health services as part of the 2022-23 NSW Budget.
 
For anyone who is struggling, you can call the below helplines for support and advice: Lifeline 13 11 14 | Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 | Beyond Blue 1300 224636.
 
To be connected with specialist mental health services, call the NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511.

Farmers and landholders across the State are being urged to plan ahead and report any flood damage to their properties, with severe weather conditions predicted to surge over the next week.
 
Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Dugald Saunders said it is critical that landholders are prepared for the wet conditions and encouraged them to report damage using the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) disaster damage survey.
 
“The wet weather period we are experiencing continues to be a real challenge at a critical time for our $21 billion primary industries sector in NSW,” Minister Saunders said.
 
“That’s why it is important for landholders across the State to report any flood damage to their properties, including land, infrastructure and animals.
 
“The survey feedback helps the NSW Government and communities understand the scale and regional distribution of the impact of a disaster on agriculture and better target resources and assistance.”
 
With the forecast for further rainfall and increased flooding over the coming days, livestock producers are reminded that the NSW Government Agriculture and Animal Services Functional Area (AASFA) hotline, 1800 814 647, provides immediate assistance for affected farmers, landowners and communities in isolated areas.
 
“The AASFA hotline provides urgent support in the form of emergency fodder drops, aerial surveillance of your property and veterinary assistance for flood-affected animals and livestock,” Mr Saunders said.
 
“Since the heavy rain began last week, we have already assisted three farmers in Western NSW with emergency fodder drops because their livestock was stranded. We expect this number to increase in the coming days.
 
“I urge landholders needing help with animals to call the hotline so we send immediate help without any risk to their own safety.”
 
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin emphasised how important it was to report natural disaster damage so government assistance could be delivered where it was needed.
 
“Whether it’s flooding at Warren or hail damage at Mangrove Mountain, we need to report the situation to emergency services and NSW DPI to help get support moving as quickly as possible,” Mr Martin said.
 
“Emergency services, local land services and DPI have been very responsive to the needs of farmers and rural communities during the wild weather this year, it’s just unfortunate they’ve had so much practice.
 
“Ultimately we want to see people get through these situations safely and repair and rebuild as quickly as possible, so we can keep growing healthy food for people.”
 
To keep up to date with the latest flood information, visit www.nsw.gov.au/floods and to submit an online natural disaster damage survey, click here.
 
If you’re a beekeeper and have hives in an area described by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) as under a current flood warning, you can move the affected hives to higher ground under the Varroa Mite Emergency Group Permit. For more information, visit the Varroa mite FAQ page.

Making home ownership more achievable is one step closer with an online calculator now available to help eligible NSW first home buyers choose between a small annual property payment or paying a bigger upfront stamp duty.
 
Under First Home Buyer Choice, eligible first home buyers will have the choice of a smaller annual property payment or a traditional upfront payment for properties with a purchase price of up to $1.5 million.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said choice was central to this game-changing reform and will help put keys in the hands of more new home owners sooner by shaving years off the time it takes them to save for a deposit.
 
“Home ownership is the investment that starts paying dividends from the moment you walk through your front door for the first time and we don’t want people to have to wait an extra couple of years to reap those benefits,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“Choice is at the heart of these game-changing reforms that will put keys in the hands of new home owners much sooner and allow young people to capitalise on the financial security that home ownership delivers.”
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said the First Home Buyer Choice calculator will help first home buyers decide for themselves which pathway to home ownership best suits their financial circumstances and personal aspirations.
 
“Treasury analysis indicates half of all owner-occupiers sell their home within 10.5 years, with first home buyers likely to sell even sooner. That means for the majority of first home buyers that don’t already receive stamp duty assistance, First Home Buyer Choice will not only allow them to break into the property market earlier, but pay less overall,” Mr Kean said.
 
“First Home Buyer Choice will help young families take their goals of home-ownership into their own hands and fast-track their journey to the great Australian dream.”
 
Finance Minister Damien Tudehope said the calculator was an important tool that would make it easy for first home buyers to make the decision that was right for them.
 
“When you own your own home, you own a stake in our nation, and the First Home Buyer Choice will help more young people across NSW do exactly that,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
“The calculator is easy to use and will find the land value of eligible properties under $1.5 million to calculate the options.”
 
Legislation for the First Home Buyer Choice, which was announced in the 2022-23 NSW Budget as part of the Government’s integrated $2.8 billion housing package, will soon be introduced into Parliament.
 
For more information on the First Home Buyer Choice, go to https://www.nsw.gov.au/initiative/first-home-buyer-choice
 
To view the calculator, go to
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/calculate-your-property-tax

Thousands of students across NSW are settling into new classrooms and learning facilities for the first time today as more school upgrades have been completed for the start of Term 4.  

Six schools are the latest to benefit from the NSW Government’s multi-billion school building program, with Glenmore Park High School students celebrating the official opening of its new performing arts and learning centre with Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell and Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies.

Ms Mitchell said it was great to see Glenmore Park High School and other schools benefiting from the NSW Government historic investment in school infrastructure. 

“We have seen the delivery of 23 new and upgraded schools since the start of this year, with more than $1 billion invested in these project. More than any other government in Australia,” Ms Mitchell said.   

“It is great to be at Glenmore Park High School to officially open their new facility, which I know students and the wider community are excited to use. 

“We have delivered six upgraded schools for Term 4, despite the challenges of weather and COVID, and I am committed to making sure every student no matter where they live in NSW has access to a high-quality school.”  

Mrs Davies said the Glenmore Park High School community is thrilled to open the new multi-million-dollar facility.  

“This investment in delivering a new performing arts centre which can cater up to 400 people and is absolutely amazing,” Mrs Davis said.  

“ I am proud to be delivering on my election commitment, this is an incredible artistic and creative learning space for students of Western Sydney and I look forward to coming to a production in the new centre, but also see the current and future students enjoy access to this world class facility.”  

School projects delivered for Day 1, Term 4 2022 include:  

1. Glenmore Park High School – upgrade 
2. Milperra Public School – upgrade 
3. Monaro High School – upgrade 
4. Samuel Gilbert Public School – upgrade 
5. Stanwell Park Public School – upgrade 
6. Wentworthville Public School – upgrade 

The NSW Government is investing $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.

Work has commenced on the dazzling new Pier Pavilion that will adorn the foreshore at Waterman’s Cove and become a renowned harbourside landmark. 
 
Minister for Infrastructure Rob Stokes said the start of construction was a major milestone for the project, which will attract people from far and wide to Barangaroo.
 
“Sydney Harbour is synonymous with architectural beauty and the Pier Pavilion combines Australian elegance with classical influences to create a truly unique landmark at Barangaroo,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“It will be open year-round for people to gather and relax on Sydney’s harbourside and will be used for a broad range of programmed events to strengthen Barangaroo’s position as a world-class destination for all.
 
“The Pavilion will become a must-see feature along the 14-kilometre continuous foreshore walk from Woolloomooloo to Glebe, adding to the collection of incredible public spaces around our harbour.”
 
The structure will include a green rooftop garden with indigenous plant species and 94 columns built using oyster concrete – which is made of ground oyster shells.
 
The national design competition for the Pier Pavilion was won by Sydney-based architects Jessica Spresser and Peter Besley. The design – celebrating land, sea and sky – was chosen for its usability and inclusivity, timeless appeal, and relationship to its surroundings.
 
The Pier Pavilion is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to ensure more than half of Barangaroo is high quality and accessible public space. Early work involves preparing the site and substructure works to reinforce the existing pier, which is due for completion in early 2023. Major construction will begin in 2023.
 
For more information, visit https://www.barangaroo.com/building-barangaroo/barangaroo-south/pier-pavilion

The newest feral-free rewilding area in NSW is one step closer to welcoming locally extinct animals into the safe-haven, with fence construction due to begin soon.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin recently visited the 2,084 hectare ‘Nungatta’ site in South East Forest National Park near Bombala, which is the newest of seven feral free areas around the State.
 
“Construction on 24 kilometres of specially-designed predator-free fencing will begin in December. Once complete, we’ll start working to eradicate every feral predator from within it, before releasing locally extinct and threatened species that were once abundant back into Nungatta,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“Our recent surveys have had great results, confirming the site has loads of truffles to feed bettongs and potoroos, which haven’t been detected here for decades.
 
“From next year, we’re planning to reintroduce native mammals that were once abundant in this habitat, such as the long-footed potoroo, eastern bettong, smoky mouse, and eastern quoll.
 
“The NSW Government is establishing a network of seven feral predator-free areas across the state, making us a world leader in rewilding. Once all seven sites are complete, 65,000 hectares of national parks will be feral free and provide a significant conservation benefit for more than 50 species.”
 
Once established, the Nungatta site will benefit more than 20 threatened species.
 
Recent surveys have confirmed some threatened species like the vulnerable White-footed Dunnart are hanging on, despite the presence of foxes and cats. Feral cats alone kill more than 1.5 billion native animals nationally every year.
 
The ambitious conservation project will see Nungatta’s forests go back in time, and is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to wildlife restoration.
 
Within just three years of the NSW Government establishing three rewilding sites in national parks around the State, 10 locally extinct species are now thriving after being reintroduced to the feral-free areas.

A new technique is being trialled by ecologists on the NSW’s far south coast to find the elusive long-footed potoroo, and it stinks.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin said scientists are searching for evidence of the critically endangered species by searching through the poo of their predators, which include cats, foxes, dingoes and quolls.
 
“While it’s a crap job, this new technique is also an innovative way to find out whether the long-footed potoroo is still present in the South East Forests,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“While we know this species inhabited forests in the State’s south-east in the early 1990’s, the long-footed potoroo has not been detected since then in NSW and we’ve never done a long-term survey to confirm whether they still exist.
 
“Finding long-footed potoroo DNA in predator scats would confirm the species still exists in NSW and be a huge step forward for our conservation efforts.
 
“With the species on the brink of extinction and traditional survey methods failing to find the animal, there has never been a better time to think outside the box and trial this detection method.”
 
The long-footed potoroo is one of several likely locally extinct species that will be reintroduced to the NSW Government’s Nungatta feral-free rewilding site in South East Forest National Park, near Bombala.
 
Not to be confused with the long-nosed potoroo, which is still found in some areas of the NSW south-east, the long-footed potoroo was last recorded through hair samples in the early 1990s.
 
Over the next year, scientists from the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program will collect 1,000 predator scat samples from South East Forest National Park.
 
They will use environmental DNA technology (eDNA) to analyse scats and confirm if the long-footed potoroo still exists in their known habitat.
 
This work is part of the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program, which is backed by a $175 million commitment over 10 years.
 
Department of Planning and Environment Senior Threatened Species Officer Dr Joss Bentley has so far collected 100 scats from the South East Forest National Park.
 
“I can’t say picking up poo is the most glamourous thing I have done in my career, but it’s an important new technique that may help us find species that are difficult to survey,” Dr Bentley said.
 
“We hope to eventually collect 1,000 scat samples and have partnered with EnviroDNA in Melbourne.  We expect the results within 12 months with the best-case scenario identifying evidence of this elusive species.
 
“Either way the results will still give us an excellent understanding of the animals currently living in these forests and complement our existing understanding of species distribution, which will help inform the south coast’s first rewilding project.”
 
For more information, visit
https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10661

Residents in Parramatta will benefit from new sporting facilities, better parks and playgrounds and a youth-focused skate and BMX park precinct funded by the $2 billion WestInvest Community Project Grants program.    

Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman announced more than $15.3 million in funding to the City of Parramatta Council for six projects which will deliver infrastructure to shape the future of Western Sydney as part of the $5 billion WestInvest Fund. 

The $2 billion WestInvest Community Project Grants includes $400 million for 15 Local Government Areas in West and South West Sydney, based on population size. 

Projects funded in Parramatta include:

• $4.6 million for the Somerville Park Improvement project which will provide new facilities for recreation and exercise, including accessible playgrounds, multi-purpose sports courts and outdoor fitness equipment 
• $3.8 million for the Max Ruddock Reserve Amenities Modernisation with viewing platform project to upgrade a 50-year-old building to support growth in local sport.
• $3.7 million for the Sue Savage Reserve Multigenerational Recreational Facilities project to provide a new youth precinct centered around a skate and BMX park.
• $1.5 million for the Active Youth are Healthy Youth project which will improve youth-focused play equipment across Dundas Ward.
• $1.4 million for the Let’s Play @ Kilpack! project to enhance the existing open space with new play and fitness equipment, as well as circuit paths and lighting.
• $354,725 for the West Epping Dog Off Leash Area project for a new fenced space for dogs and their owners. 

The City of Parramatta Council will co-contribute a combined $533,311 to the Sue Savage Reserve Multigenerational Recreational Facilities and the Let’s Play @ Kilpack project. 

Mr Perrottet said the projects funded  will deliver a wide-range of benefits for the community helping make our River City a better place to live, work and play. 

“These six projects focus on improving the health and wellbeing of the local community by providing improved sport, recreational facilities and more open space made possible by our successful WestConnex asset recycling strategy,” Mr Perrottet said.
“WestInvest is ensuring the people of Parramatta have better access to green space for sport and recreation helping build on our vision of Parramatta as a vibrant cultural hub as part of the NSW Government’s Six Cities Strategy.”

Mr Kean said the Sue Savage Reserve project will enhance the existing open space to provide new BMX and skating facilities, as well as fitness stations in response to community feedback. 

“This project is perfect for a booming city with a high proportion of youngsters growing up in the area,” Mr Kean said. 

Mrs Tuckerman said the Active Youth are Healthy Youth project will be driven by local young people in Parramatta, to design and enhance infrastructure for recreation and socialisation.

“Outdoor playgrounds are vital for young families to get together, explore and relax. It’s community facilities like these which councils are best placed to deliver through partnerships with the NSW Government,” Mrs Tuckerman said. 

The City of Parramatta Council was allocated $29.9 million through the Local Government Allocation. Additional projects submitted by council totalling $12 million are being assessed and will be funded if they meet all requirements under the WestInvest Guidelines. 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

NSW teachers will be given more time than ever to prepare high quality lessons under plans to support teachers roll out the changes to the new school curriculum.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the additional curriculum release time is on top of the existing weekly release time from face-to-face teaching provided to all NSW public school teachers.

“For high school teachers, this additional time will mean that they will now have the equivalent of almost one full day every week for lesson planning,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We want students to succeed in their schooling and to do that we need to support teachers so they can plan lessons that will deliver the right outcomes for students.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the release time will give teachers the opportunity to fully engage with the new curriculum, which is on track to be delivered by 2025.

“We continue to listen to the workforce by removing unnecessary administration requirements, and now we are giving additional time for planning to get this landmark new curriculum right from the beginning,” Ms Mitchell said.

For secondary school teachers, who currently receive five hours and 35 minutes of release time each week, they will be guaranteed the equivalent of an extra 30 minutes per week for three years.

Currently, primary school teachers receive two hours of release time every week and under these changes they will be guaranteed the equivalent of an extra 30 minutes per week in 2023, increasing to an extra 60 minutes per week in 2024 and 2025. Primary school executive staff will also receive additional release time.

Ms Mitchell said schools will also be given more time to plan for the following school years, with an extra school development day scheduled for the end of Term 4 in 2022 and 2023.

“Currently the last day of face-to-face learning for students in Term 4 in both 2022 and 2023 is a Monday, so converting these two days to a school development day is a no-brainer,” Ms Mitchell said.

“It also makes more sense for families to finish the school year on a Friday, while allowing staff more time to have an extra day of professional learning.”

The Central Coast community will benefit from enhanced health services with the official opening today of Wyong Hospital’s ‘Block H’ today.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor toured the new building, which is the centerpiece of the NSW Government’s $200 million redevelopment.

“The Central Coast population is expected to grow by more than 95,000 people by 2041 so it was vital to expand Wyong Hospital and create the capacity to meet the needs of the local community well into the future,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The six-storey building features expanded and state-of-the-art clinical spaces, including a new emergency department and intensive care unit, with increased capacity to support staff to care for patients more effectively and efficiently.

“It also fits in with our Six Cities vision for NSW, creating more liveable and better connected regions of global significance – in this case that’s the Central Coast City.”

Mrs Taylor said ‘Block H’ also includes an expanded medical imaging department featuring Wyong Hospital’s first MRI service, which is set to be operational early next year.

“I’m delighted to tour the new and expanded medical imaging department at Wyong Hospital, which includes an additional CT scanner, x-ray machine and ultrasound room,” Mrs Taylor said.

“These services make a real difference, providing services locally to ensure people no longer have to travel outside of the region to access the treatment they need.”

Other features of Block H include 60 additional inpatient beds, a new outpatient paediatric unit and an expanded medical assessment unit. Redevelopment of the existing hospital building has also delivered an additional operating theatre and an expanded transit lounge and medical day unit.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch said construction work on the final stage of the refurbishment of the existing hospital building will commence mid next year, with completion expected by mid to late 2024. 

“The 2022-23 NSW Budget allowed the scope of refurbishment works to be further expanded to include an expanded Cancer Day Unit, in addition to the existing scope for a comprehensive Women’s Centre Clinics, an Aboriginal Health Unit and a Carer Support Unit,” Mr Crouch said.

The Wyong Hospital redevelopment is part of the NSW Government’s record $11.9 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years to 2025-26, with nearly a third of the capital allocation in this financial year going towards regional and rural health facilities.

Since 2011, the Government has delivered more than 180 hospitals and health facilities across NSW, with more than 130 currently underway – of those, more than 90 are in rural and regional areas.