Category: NSW News

A greenway from Iron Cove to the Cooks River, designs for the Pippita Rail Trail connecting Lidcombe to Sydney Olympic Park and a key section of Wollongong’s 60km coastal Grand Pacific Walk are among $40 million of new projects funded though the State Government’s Get NSW Active program.
 
Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes said Tranches 1 and 2 of the $110m Get NSW Active Program would deliver 55 projects right across the six cities.
 
“From designs to convert an unused abattoir’s rail line from 1911 into an active transport link, through to a new bike link between Randwick and Coogee Beach, the Get NSW Active program is all about funding a strong pipeline of active transport infrastructure for all of the community to enjoy,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“More than $40 million in funding for projects right across NSW will provide families with choice on how they’re going to get to school or work, their local park or shops or even the beach, giving them the chance to leave the car at home and leave more money in hip-pockets.
 
“The evidence is clear that investing in Active Transport infrastructure makes local communities happier, healthier and more productive.”
 
Key projects to be delivered across the six cities include:
 

• $600,000 to build a 2.5m wide pedestrian pathway in Clifton, delivering a key missing link of the 60km Grand Pacific walk that will increase tourism and economic growth in the Illawarra region.
• $1.14 million to construct of a new shared path along the western side of Cawdor Road between Sheathers Lane and Camden High School supporting kids to ride or walk to school safely.
• $770,000 for detailed designs of the Pippita Rail Trail project to convert an unused freight link into a 2km share cycling and walking route connecting Lidcombe Station to Sydney Olympic Park.
• $3.1 million for George Street East Pedestrian and Cyclist paths, connecting to the $19 million Alfred Street pedestrian and cyclist to the Parramatta CBD.
• $9.8 million to deliver the southern portion of the Cooks River to Iron Cove Greenway that will connect communities in Canterbury, through the inner west to the Bay Run.

 
From Camden to Canterbury and Hawkesbury to Haberfield, communities right across the six cities will all benefit from new pathways, cycleways and connections that encourage active transport.
 
Get NSW Active received 474 applications from councils across the state with the first and second of four tranches allocating funding for 55 Greater Sydney projects and a range of regional projects which will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
More than $200 million has already been allocated to more than 400 projects over the past five years, including Parramatta Escarpment Boardwalk, Inner West Greenway and Newcastle Light Rail Shared Path Stages 2 & 3.
 
A full list of the successful metropolitan applicants is available here.

A Minns Labor Government will commit $225 million for a Western Sydney Floods Resilience Plan to commence immediate work on projects including evacuation roads, levees and critical communications infrastructure that will help improve and bolster flood prevention and evacuation infrastructure across Western Sydney.
  
We have all seen the devastating floods in Western Sydney where roads have been cut off, homes evacuated, businesses destroyed – some for the fourth time this year.
 
Unfortunately, we have to expect and plan for more flooding emergencies in NSW like we have seen this year.
 
The financial and personal cost of these tragic events outweighs any other factor. During the February and March floods earlier this year across the state, four people tragically lost their lives ,169,000 people were forced to evacuate, and 4000 buildings rendered uninhabitable. The cost to state and federal governments for support and rebuild will be over $8 billion.

This funding package is a commitment from Labor to help reduce the impacts of flooding in communities situated in flood prone areas.
 
We welcome the Federal Government’s initial commitment of $300 million in roads in the North West corridor.
 
If elected, NSW Labor will also seek to partner with the Federal Government in matching today’s roads funding announcement.
 
Importantly – the $225 million in funding commitments will be required to be spent within two years. While the current NSW Government wants to spend the next five years in the planning phase, Labor wants to see planning and work commence far quicker. Communities at risk of flooding have waited long enough for action.
 
Road Upgrades
 
NSW Labor will commit $200 million to identify, plan, and commence work on critical evacuation roads and bridges across Western Sydney.
 
Selection of road upgrades will be done in consultation with local councils, businesses, community groups and other key stakeholders to ensure this funding goes to the roads that can have the most immediate and significant impact.
 
Funding will need to be spent within two years – ensuring immediate action to protect communities.
 
NSW Labor will also invest in installing live traffic cameras on local roads and bridges to assist residents when they attempt to evacuate.
 
Levees
 
NSW Labor will commit $24 million to protect communities around Hawkesbury and Nepean River and Camden and Picton from large scale flooding by building new levees at Peachtree Creek levee, McGraths Hill levee and Pitt Town levee.
 
Peachtree Creek levee:
 
Estimated to cost $1.3 million, the Peachtree Creek levee will help protect properties between the Nepean River and Penrith CBD from backwater flooding with an earthen levee, a retaining wall and floodgates.

It would include Peachtree Creek main levee, including floodgates over Boundary Creek; Old Ferry Road levee; and Tennis Court levee.
 
McGraths Hill levee:
 
Estimated to cost $8 million, the McGraths Hill levee will help protect residential properties in against flooding up to the 1 in 50 chance per year event. It would block flows that enter the suburb through low lying areas to the south and east.
 
Pitt Town levee:
 
Estimated to cost $9.6 million, the Pitt Town levee will help protect residential areas within the town by blocking flows that enter through low lying areas to the south and east.
 
Communications infrastructure
 
Telecommunications are critical infrastructure but are susceptible to failure in the event of natural disaster such as fire and flood.
 
That’s why NSW Labor will purchase four Cells on Wheels stations for deployment in emergencies at a cost of $1 million.
 
These are a self-powered, trailer mounted, cell towers that can be deployed to disaster areas to replace damaged or destroyed mobile phone towers.
 
NSW Labor will also increase access to Department of Primary Industries water gauges on rivers and creeks to help residents monitor rising flood levels and make the real time data easier to access and use.   

These projects – along with a balanced approach to lowering the maximum capacity of Warragamba Dam while ensuring the replacement of any lost capacity in drinking water – can all be actioned far quicker than any mooted plan by the NSW Government.

Importantly, this also recognises that 45 per cent of flood waters in the area come from rivers other than Warragamba.
 
Communities facing continual flood risk – and who have faced floods several times in the last year alone – need urgent action and solutions that can be delivered right now, not in another decade.
 
Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader said:
 

This is only the beginning of Labor’s flood mitigation plan.
 
“I’ve visited these communities and inspected the flood damage. It’s heartbreaking talking to families who have lost homes, businesses who have to start from scratch.
 
“The fact of the matter is these communities will face continual flood risk – and we need urgent action and solutions that can be delivered right now, not in another decade.
 
“These are sensible actions we can take right now to help improve the flood resilience and emergency response across these communities.”

 
Shadow Minister for Emergency Management, Jihad Dib said:
 
“This is a very sensible approach that seeks to address some of the challenges we have seen during recent flooding events. By having better mitigation, communication and evacuation strategies, we are working to provide the best possible response to flooding events to communities at their time of vulnerability.
 
“We have all seen the problems people and emergency service personnel have faced when communications are lost during natural disasters.  These Cells on Wheels are easily moved and will play a very important and practical role in ensuring communication can be established and maintained at times when they are needed most.
 
“Far too often, impractical evacuation routes have served to isolate communities and placed them at further risk. This is something that needs to be fixed.”
 
Shadow Minister for Roads John Graham said:
 
“Ensuring communities have adequate flood evacuation routes is common sense and yet we have seen these roads and the people living in these areas neglected through poor planning for rapidly growing populations.”

A Minns Labor Government will abolish the Liberals’ and Nationals’ senior trade and investment commissioner roles.
 
The Liberal and National Government announced in November 2020 that it would spend millions on six overseas senior trade and investment commissioner roles, who will receive salaries of up to $500,000 per year.
 
Labor’s announcement comes after a series of embarrassing revelations surrounding the Government’s touted Global NSW Strategy.
 
Serious questions have been raised about whether the multimillion dollar scheme has delivered taxpayers value for money.
 
These contracts will not be renewed, and after two failed processes to fill their $500,000 position in New York – which has been mired in scandal and secrecy – now is the time to stop.
 
Labor will work with the business community and industry groups about a suitable replacement program that deliver meaningful investment and growth for NSW industries, and work with Austrade to align our investment activities.
  
The role of Agent-General for NSW in London was axed in 1993 after an expenses scandal, used to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
 
The late former-premier John Fahey described the position as a sham, saying the position was a throwback to colonial days when it was important to have “garden parties and participate in ceremonies.”
 
Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader, said:
 

With our hospitals overstretched and teachers under-resourced, the Government has failed dismally to demonstrate value for money of its senior trade commissioners.
 
“Labor will prioritise rebuilding NSW’s domestic manufacturing capacity and delivering local job opportunities.”

Anoulack Chanthivong, NSW Shadow Minister for Industry and Trade, said:
 
“The Government is unable to establish how much trade or investment can be directly attributed to its grandiose senior trade roles.
 
“The Government’s senior trade roles have been mired in scandal – not only about who is being appointed to these roles and how, but also the overseas activities at taxpayers’ expense.”

Budding Information and Technology (IT) professionals are honing the latest industry techniques as part of an innovative program that will equip them with the skills they need for the rapidly changing technology landscape.
 
Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology and Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said more than 50 young people are participating in the NSW Government’s IT traineeship program through TAFE NSW.
 
“This program will ensure we develop a strong and robust IT workforce, which will help grow the economy and secure a brighter future for NSW,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“The NSW Government is delivering more opportunities than ever before to help people get the skills they need for the jobs they want, and this program is another great example of that.”
 
The two-year IT traineeship has been designed for Year 12 school leavers seeking to commence a career in the high-growth and in-demand tech industry, which combines a formal qualification with employment and on-the-job training at a NSW Government agency.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said IT skills can take you anywhere and this program is preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow.
 
“The pandemic has seen a rapid increase in the adoption of emerging technologies and there is a growing need to improve our digital readiness to ensure NSW remains at the forefront of a booming industry,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“By giving young people a foot-in-the-door, they are gaining real-world experience and building industry connections, which in turn will support their ongoing education and employment pathways.” 
 
More information about the program can be found online

The 400th new fire truck has rolled off the production line and been handed over to the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) as part of the NSW Government’s $830 million investment in response to the Bushfire Inquiry.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said $105.6 million in this year’s Budget has been allocated to the Tanker Replacement Program, delivering on one of Inquiry’s key recommendations.
 
“The Black Summer bush fires had a devastating effect on communities across our State and pushed the RFS to the limit,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“Two years on from that horror fire season, we are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Bushfire Inquiry. Making sure our RFS volunteers are better equipped to handle bush fires will help keep communities across NSW safer into the future.
 
“With the next bush fire danger period fast approaching, I am pleased we have now 400 new tankers deployed to Brigades in every corner of the State so that they’re more prepared than ever to handle the oncoming threats.”
 
The new trucks have been assembled at four factories across NSW.
 
RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said the increased funding has greatly benefited Brigades members along with the communities they protect.
 
“While the existing trucks have served our Brigades well, it’s important that the latest and safest equipment is provided to our members to keep themselves safe and best serve communities,” Commissioner Rogers said.
 
“The 400th fire truck has been handed over to the Yanco Rural Fire Brigade. The new vehicle is a Category 1 bush fire tanker which is worth $380,000 and will be greatly welcomed by the local Brigade and their community.”
 
Yanco Rural Fire Brigade is located in the Leeton Shire in south-western NSW.

The new seven-storey $723.3 million Tweed Valley Hospital development has reached a major milestone, hitting its highest point of construction.
 
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the new hospital campus is the state’s largest regional hospital project. 
 
“This is about delivering world-class health facilities and services closer to home to transform healthcare for communities in the Tweed Valley region,” Mr Toole said.
 
“Today’s ‘topping out’ ceremony is a significant milestone for this incredible new health facility which will double capacity of the existing hospital to better meet the current and future healthcare needs of this community which has grown by 6,000 people since this project was first announced.”
 
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the hospital will feature two new major services, including an interventional cardiology service and an integrated cancer care service with radiotherapy and PET-CT.
 
“These services will be a game-changer for the local community, providing treatment locally to ensure up to 5,000 people no longer have to travel outside of the region to access life-saving treatments,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
“Once complete next year, the new hospital will boast almost 200 more beds and an extra 16 new Emergency Department treatment spaces.”
 
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said in addition to the world-class health facility, construction for the hospital has provided a boost to the local economy, supporting hundreds of jobs since work began.
 
“As the project moves into the internal fit-out stage, work is ramping up with around 400 people on-site each day,” Mr Provest said.
 
“Importantly, many of the workers contributing to this project are from the local community.”
 
The hospital has been designed in close collaboration with staff and the community and will include:
 

• More than 400 overnight and day only beds to address future demand for health services
• Expanded emergency department with 42 treatment spaces
• Expanded outpatient services with more clinics
• 12 operating theatres, an increase of five from the existing Tweed Hospital
• New interventional cardiology service
• New radiotherapy service as part of integrated cancer care, including a PET-CT suite
• Outdoor green spaces
• Campus roads and car park.

 
With the hospital reaching its full structural height, construction teams will continue the internal fit-out of the building, services installation and the hospital’s facade.
 
Construction of the new hospital is on track for completion in 2023.
 
A new $50 million multi-storey car park will also be delivered as part of the project, providing staff, patients and visitors with access to over 1,200 car park spaces at the new hospital campus when complete. Construction is underway and on-track to open in 2023.
 
The Tweed Valley Hospital development is part of the NSW Government’s record $10.8 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years to 2024-25, with nearly a third of the spend in this financial year earmarked for regional and rural health facilities.
 
Since 2011, the government has delivered more than 170 hospitals and health facilities across NSW, with more than 110 currently underway – of those, more than 70 are in rural and regional areas.

The NSW Government has committed a one-off $2 million funding program to support maintenance and repair works to boating infrastructure as part of a $28 million Boating Now Program.

Minister for Transport and Veterans David Elliott said the NSW Government allocated the additional funds to help boating infrastructure owners across NSW undertake maintenance works to boat ramps, pontoons, wharves, jetties, boat ramps and car and trailer parks. 

“NSW boasts some of the best waterways in the world which are not only enjoyed by recreational water users but vital for local tourist operators and commercial vessels, therefore it is important to ensure boating communities have easy access to modern maritime facilities,” Mr Elliott said.

“We understand the challenges of maintaining boating facilities and recognise that repairs can be costly for asset owners and managers.

“We’ve listened to feedback from boating stakeholders and as a result we’ve made up to $2 million available as part of Round Four of the Boating Now Program to help owners return boating assets to their optimal operational condition,” Mr Elliott said.

Applications are now open for the Boating Asset maintenance sub-program, which will fund up to $30,000 per asset and up to a maximum of $60,000 per applicant for multiple assets.

To be eligible, the boating asset must be available for general boating public use and provide direct benefits to recreational boaters. The asset must also be included in an existing annual maintenance schedule or have its own asset maintenance plan in place at the time of application.  

Guidelines and the application form is available on the Boating Now website. Applications close at 5pm on 30 September 2022 and must be emailed to MIDO@transport.nsw.gov.au

In an Australian-first initiative, NSW teachers will have access to a full suite of high-quality, sequenced curriculum resources to assist with lesson planning – the number one concern reported by teachers in a national study.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new resources will have a revolutionary impact on teacher workload.

“Teachers have told us how much they love their profession but the number one tax on their time is finding or producing high quality teaching resources,” Mr Perrottet said. 

“We want to ease that workload by providing online access to universally available learning curriculum materials they can draw from to free up lesson planning time each week.

“This will be further supported by more than 200 new administration and support staff in schools from Term 4, to allow our teachers to focus on what they love – teaching.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the new resources will transform education in NSW.

“This is a game-changer for teachers in NSW,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Teachers have told us that finding or making high quality resources that align with the curriculum is the number one tax on their time.

“We’ve listened closely to our teaching staff, developing online, high-quality, centralised, universally available learning materials they can draw on.”

Ms Mitchell also said the new universally-available resources will lift student outcomes across the board.

“This is not about taking the creativity out of teaching – that’s what our teachers do best. It’s about providing teachers with a basic recipe for student success, while allowing them to contextualise how they use the ingredients to get the best outcomes for their students,” Ms Mitchell said.

Feedback from more than 4,000 submissions to a review of teacher workload identified the need for universal curriculum resources.

These findings are supported by a recent national study by the Grattan Institute. Its research found that centralised resources could save teachers an average of three hours per week – with 86 per cent of teachers across Australia reporting they ‘always’ or ‘frequently’ do not have enough time for high-quality lesson planning.

A competitive tender process is currently underway for qualified organisations to partner with the NSW Department of Education in developing the new quality-assured online curriculum content, which will begin rolling out from Term 4 2022.

The NSW Department of Education’s Quality Time mid-year update found that despite COVID-related disruptions, the NSW Government has exceeded its target to reduce the time principals and school based non-teaching staff spend on low-value administrative tasks by 20 per cent, and is on track to meet this target for teachers by the end of 2022.

The Quality Time mid-year update can be found at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/quality-time/quality-time-program

The NSW Government’s record $1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and provide safe accommodation to those in need by supporting proven initiatives ensures a continued commitment to break the cycle of disadvantage.

Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said assertive outreach, early intervention and stable accommodation are key to combatting homelessness.

“As we mark Homelessness Week, we shine a light on the NSW Government’s commitment to provide supports and services across our state to reduce the number of people sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said. 

“Early intervention is at the heart of our dedication to achieve the Premier’s Priority to halve street homelessness by 2025. 

“The Together Home program is one of many exceptional programs across our state reducing rough sleeping.
“Together Home not only provides a stable place to live, but also ensures there are wrap-around supports to help people rebuild their lives and reduce a return to rough sleeping.”

Since Together Home commenced in 2020, the NSW Government has invested $177.8 million, including a $37 million injection in the 2022-23 NSW Budget, with more than 990 people supported under the program.

In 2022-23 $394.8 million is being invested to continue a range of specialist homelessness services across NSW, referral services such as Link2home, enhancements for youth refuges and after hours domestic and family violence services and NSW Homelessness Strategy initiatives.

There has been also been an increase in outreach street patrols to engage with more people sleeping rough and offer support through wrap-around services and temporary accommodation.

Through the NSW Homelessness Strategy, the NSW Government has invested over $20 million to support people to maintain their social housing tenancies and prevent a return to homelessness. 

Anybody who is homeless or at risk of homelessness can contact Link2home on 1800 152 152. Support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

A multi-million dollar investment will revamp the 88-year-old Wentworthville Fire Station and expand its response to fires and other emergencies in Western Sydney.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the $6 million investment would replace the existing facility built in 1934.
 
“The current building at the intersection of Garfield and Pritchard Streets will be demolished to make way for its state-of-the-art replacement featuring an additional engine bay, separate amenities for male and female firefighters and larger administration and training spaces,” Ms Cooke said.
 
Member for Seven Hills Mark Taylor said the NSW Government is investing in infrastructure and services to match the significant growth and development across Western Sydney.
 
“This redevelopment project will ensure our firefighters have the best possible facilities to tackle their growing workload, with tens of thousands of residents in Wentworthville and surrounding suburbs,” Mr Taylor said.
 
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Paul Baxter said the station responds to around 1,250 incidents each year from Wentworthville and the neighbouring suburbs of Greystanes, Pendle Hill and Westmead.
 
“Many of the areas it services have recently been identified as having a heightened fire risk because of its socio-economic make-up, higher-density living arrangements and large industrial presence. A bigger and better fire station will ultimately make these communities safer,” Commissioner Baxter said.
 
FRNSW will undertake planning and detailed design work in 2022-23, ahead of the demolition and construction work beginning next financial year.
 
The redevelopment of Wentworthville Fire Station forms part of a $862 million 2022-23 NSW Budget investment in FRNSW which includes new and upgraded fire stations, construction of female amenities at fire stations, health and safety improvements for firefighters and 16 new bush fire water tankers.