Category: NSW News

More than ten hectares of public land near one of Sydney’s best-connected train stations will be transformed, creating a residential, entertainment and technology hub on the doorstep of the Sydney CBD.
 
Minister for Cities Rob Stokes said the draft master plan for Redfern-North Eveleigh sets a vision for affordable and diverse housing, a start-up hub and entertainment precinct within walking distance of Redfern Station.
 
“The Redfern-North Eveleigh precinct is a ten hectare parcel of inner city public land that has been off limits to the general public for more than a century and provides the perfect place for a new city-shaping precinct,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“We’re transforming the old rail yards by restoring and protecting their heritage value, building new homes and offices while creating more than 14,000 square metres of public space, including a new town square and public parkland.
 
“Just as we’ve seen at Carriageworks, this plan will celebrate Redfern’s deep indigenous connection and industrial past while creating a new precinct that accommodates people to live and work in the inner city.
 
“We’ve set a historic target of 30 per cent diverse housing, half of which must be social and affordable housing, which is triple the Greater Cities Commission’s baseline target.”
 
The draft masterplan is focused on the Paint Shop sub-precinct, named after the 135-year-old red brick Victorian workshop where trains were overhauled up until 1988.
 
Key features of the draft masterplan include:

• Adaptive reuse of the 6,000 square metre Paint Shop building.
• New public square fronting Wilson Street.
• New public parkland near Chief Mechanical Engineer’s building.
• New public square near Carriageworks and the Paint Shop.
• Plans for up to 450 new homes, around 8,000 jobs during construction and up to 16,000 jobs once activated. 
• At 30 percent diverse housing, at least half of which must be social and affordable housing.
• Building heights ranging from three to 28 storeys.

 
“The Paint Shop building provides an incredible canvas to re-imagine Redfern-North Eveleigh into a thriving place in the heart of the inner city,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“The revitalisation of the area around Redfern Station will be complemented by the upcoming plans to redevelop the area around Central Station, bookending Tech Central with two world-class precincts and transport hubs.”
 
“There will be dedicated spaces for startup businesses and better active transport connections between Redfern Station, North Eveleigh and to the bike network.”
 
The NSW Government has prepared a State Significant Precinct study and indicative masterplan for the Paint Shop Sub-Precinct which proposes to change the planning controls to guide future revitalisation. Transport for NSW is working closely with the Transport Asset Holding Entity, the site owner to deliver this transformational renewal.
 
The proposed masterplan for the Paint Shop sub-precinct is on public exhibition until Thursday 25 August. The community is encouraged to provide feedback on the proposal by visiting the Virtual Engagement Room at bit.ly/RNE-virtual-room
 
You can read more about the project here: www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/paintshop

The NSW Government has mobilised its team of veterinarians and specialist biosecurity staff, ramping up efforts to ensure farmers are in the best position to manage a possible incursion of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).  
  
Expert staff from Local Land Services (LLS) will connect with farmers through a series of targeted workshops, webinars, and visits to saleyards and field days to help farmers identify and report the early signs of both FMD and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
  
Acting Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said while the focus remains on keeping these diseases out of NSW, it’s crucial to prepare for a worst-case scenario.  
  
“Our top priority is ensuring FMD and LSD never reach our shores – and we’ve been pushing hard for stronger biosecurity measures to keep our industry safe. But we do need to be prepared for the worst and that’s why we’re arming farmers with the information they need now,” Mr Toole said.
  
“Farmers can play their part by being alert for warning signs, regularly monitoring livestock and quickly reporting any suspect cases.
 
“We also have hundreds of LLS biosecurity signs available across the state for farmers to utilise and to warn people of the risks of bringing unwanted pests onto your property.”
 
Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said with FMD and LSD on our doorstep, it’s a timely reminder for livestock producers to ensure their farm biosecurity plans are up to date.  
  
“Farm biosecurity plans are the foundation of our State’s preparedness when it comes to new animal and plant diseases,” Mr Saunders said.  
  
“These can be simple measures built into day-to-day operations that will help protect your farm and ultimately, our State.
 
“I am encouraging farmers to be overly cautious with people who come onto their properties and monitor livestock closely for blisters in and around the mouth area, drooling and limping.
 
“If livestock do exhibit any of these unusual signs, they must be reported immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 or their Local Land Services district veterinarian.”
 
Farmers interested in learning more about FMD or LSD, or in attending an upcoming event are encouraged to visit https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/pests,-weeds-and-diseases/biosecurity-alerts/foot-and-mouth-disease-and-lumpy-skin-disease for more information. 
 
These events will support ongoing surveillance by LLS district veterinarians, who regularly carry out animal disease investigations across the State. 

The NSW Productivity Commission has found keeping beneficial COVID-19 regulatory reforms would see a $3.1 billion boost to the NSW economy over the next decade.
 
Economic benefits come from increased employment flexibility, business flexibility and increased use of digital platforms.
 
Specific measures include:

• $1.9 billion from long service flexibility allowing an employer and a worker to agree to take long service leave in smaller blocks
• $450 million from electronic meetings and voting for strata schemes, community land associations and incorporated associations
• $250 million from a range of planning measures, including 24-hour retail supply chain operations, and allowing home businesses to run 24 hours a day and to employ two to five staff
• $197 million from changes to the sale of takeaway alcohol and home delivery alcohol by licensed venues
• $195 million from digital execution and certification of conveyancing documents and remote witnessing of signatures

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the Lessons from COVID-19 Regulatory Relaxations paper released today outlines the ongoing benefits of these reforms for the economy and will help inform future regulations.
 
“The Productivity Commission paper has confirmed that most of the temporary regulations that supported communities and businesses during the pandemic delivered valuable and immediate support and will boost the State’s productivity by $3.1 billion over the next decade,” Mr Kean said.
“Measures such as supporting businesses with more flexible retail operating hours and improving how people access long service leave have provided much needed support during the darkest days of the pandemic.
 
“I look forward to hearing from regulators, the community and business representatives about future reform opportunities.”
 
NSW Productivity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat AM said the analysis highlighted the value of trialling and testing new approaches when responding to an evolving crisis.
 
“The reforms increased flexibility such as digital execution and certification of conveyancing documents, business flexibility that allowed restaurants to prepare food for delivery, and employment flexibility that offered employees greater choice in accessing benefits,” Mr Achterstraat said.
 
“Our research found that the reforms driven by the pandemic provided significant direct benefits to the community and an ongoing boost to the economy. As we transition to living with COVID-19, our paper highlights the need for governments to continue to experiment with regulatory changes that promote new ways of working and living.”
 
The Lessons from COVID-19 Regulatory Relaxations paper can be read here: https://www.productivity.nsw.gov.au/lessons-from-covid19-regulatory-relaxations

More than 40 multilingual students are set to bolster the NSW Government’s interpreting ranks after successfully completing its Interpreting Scholarship program.  

Facilitated by the University of NSW, 42 students have graduated from the NSW Government Interpreting Scholarship program and will now be able to put their new qualifications into practice through Multicultural NSW, where they will also be given additional mentoring and professional development. 

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the new graduates will be welcome additions among the state’s interpreting professionals.  

“Multicultural NSW is Australia’s leading provider of interpreting services, and each of these graduates has a chance to join its ranks and fill shortages in key languages,” Mr Coure said.  

Among the key languages the new interpreters will be covering include Filipino, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Macedonian, Nepali, Portuguese, Serbian, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese. 

Mr Coure said with a growing number of people in NSW speaking a language other than English, interpreters are more important than ever. 

“The latest census data shows us that more NSW residents are speaking a language other than English at home. Those numbers will continue to grow as more of the world’s citizens choose to find a brighter future in our great state,” Mr Coure said. 

“This scholarship program is about tapping into the availability of these languages in NSW, where we can create job opportunities for people to use their language skills and in turn help their communities.” 

Turkish-Australian student Sena Uzun said she felt the course had prepared her well for community interpreting after completing a bachelor’s degree in translating and interpreting in her former homeland of Turkey. 

“I think what Australia is doing in terms of providing support, and services to multicultural and linguistically diverse communities is very important,” Ms Uzun said. 

Thai-born Lydia Armour said she felt she was better equipped to support her Wollongong Thai community after the course. 

“The level of support from Multicultural NSW and the depth of knowledge from lecturers, tutors and the Thai tutor was amazing,” Ms Armour said. 

“I’m very invested in my Thai community and this is an important way that I can ensure everyone has fairer and more equitable access to services and information.” 

“Interpreting is a very difficult and demanding profession that requires high-level training of competent bilinguals, UNSW is pleased to work in collaboration with Multicultural NSW to extend its course offerings to include more languages as needed in the community,” Professor Sandra Hale said. 

“Training opportunities for many community languages have been limited in Australia. UNSW is very excited to work with Multicultural NSW to fill this critical gap.” 

Multicultural NSW and the University of New South Wales worked together to develop the 20-week micro credential to help fill language shortages. 

Each of the 42 scholarship graduates will now be able to sit a Certified Provisional Interpreter test allowing them to work as interpreters for Multicultural NSW. 

Through the 2022-23 NSW Budget, $8 million per year for two years has been committed to boosting the NSW Government’s languages services, including an expansion of its Interpreter Scholarship Program. 

Marine Rescue NSW specialists have put their skills to the test in a major maritime capability operation on Pittwater this weekend, preparing for real-life on-water emergencies.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the two-day Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) tests the training and coordination of multiple emergency services organisations.
 
“More than 115 search and rescue specialists, including 70 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers from eight units across Greater Sydney and the Central Coast, are taking part in this important operation,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“Training opportunities like this are vital to help our crews stay sharp and ready to save lives when more people take to the water in the warmer months.”
 
Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes said despite the wet weather, Marine Rescue NSW volunteers have responded to 3,896 calls for urgent help this year.
 
“Tragically over the past year 14 boaters and paddlers have lost their lives, and I urge everyone heading out on the water to do their bit by always wearing a lifejacket and Logging On with their local Marine Rescue base,” Mr Stokes said.
 
Marine Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell said the exercise was the largest of three held across the State this winter to test the readiness of search and rescue crews.
 
“This weekend’s event is a major component of our ongoing professional training program for our highly skilled boat crew and radio operators, in the State’s busiest boating region,” Deputy Commissioner Barrell said.
 
“Our volunteers are trained to the highest standards for their roles and the on-water experience they gain from this exercise helps keep them rescue-ready around the clock.”
 
The scenario for the SAREX involved a search for multiple victims of a missing recreational fishing boat off the coast.
 
Marine Rescue NSW members from the Botany Port Hacking, Broken Bay, Central Coast, Cottage Point, Hawkesbury, Middle Harbour, Port Jackson and Sydney units were joined by personnel from the NSW Police Force Marine Area Command, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter and Surf Life Saving NSW.

Trade between Southeast Asia and NSW is set to increase with the official opening of the NSW Government Office Singapore.
 
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Stuart Ayres formally opened the office today and said the opening reflects the state’s commitment to increasing opportunities for NSW businesses to find new markets, growing NSW exports to the region and attracting new investment into the state.
 
“ASEAN collectively represents NSW’s second largest two-way trading partner and the fourth largest investor into Australia making it a significant economic partner for our state,” Mr Ayres said.
 
“We have a strong and vibrant relationship with Singapore and having a presence on the ground will play a vital role in delivering on our commitment to ensuring Asia’s biggest companies establish a presence in NSW.
 
“The NSW Government is expanding the states international network to boost two-way engagement, increase trade and encourage and attract investment.” 
 
The office is led by Andrew Parker the Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to ASEAN who is working with the team to build the profile of NSW’s capabilities to government and commercial partners in the region.
 
“Singapore is a hugely successful economy and holds significant potential for our state’s growing businesses. Work is already well underway to support NSW exports to expand into the region, get students and visitors back and to attract innovative companies from the region to invest in NSW,” Mr Parker said.
 
The NSW Government Office is located at Raffles Place in the Republic Plaza of Singapore.
 
The NSW Trade Statement can be downloaded at investment.nsw.gov.au.

Four popular Western Sydney locations have been selected to welcome the first of several shared e-scooter trials to roll out across NSW.
 
The first shared trials will begin on Saturday at three locations in Western Sydney Parklands’ Bungarribee Park, Lizard Log and Shale Hills, as well as The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.
 
The trial parameters have been carefully considered, taking lessons from e-scooter use around the world and across the country to ensure the safest, most practical and effective measures are in place.
 
Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes said the Government was committed to cautiously trialling the use of e-scooters in safe environments. 
 
“Like any new technology, e-scooters present us with enormous opportunities and several challenges to address before we can permanently permit them on our streets,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“This is why the NSW Government is committed to trialling them and why our parklands are the perfect location to start ahead of trials across multiple council areas.
 
“Councils can now formally apply to hold a 12-month trial with selected e-scooter shared scheme providers in their area. The trial is restricted to shared scheme e-scooters, so we can guarantee the safety parameters of each device.”
Council areas can now apply to be part of the trial and once approved can begin 12-month trials with e-scooter shared scheme providers in their area.
 
The trial will limit shared scheme e-scooters to riders 16 years old and over, limited to a maximum of 20km/h on bicycle paths, or roads with a speed limit up to 50 km/h, and a speed limit of 10km/h for shared paths.
 
E-scooters will not be permitted on footpaths and the use of privately owned e-scooters will remain prohibited.
 
“We’ve taken our time to get this trial right, which is why we’re not rushing into rolling this trial out to interested council areas immediately,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“Each shortlisted council will have to meet the requirements of the trial and undergo a safety assessment before being approved.”
 
Visitors to Western Sydney Parklands and The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan will be able to hire an e-scooter through the provider’s app. The app will provide visitors with a map that shows where the scooters are located to pick up and ride.
 
Applications to be part of the e-scooter shared scheme trial are open until September 30 this year. You can find out more about e-scooter trials here.

Balancing work and life for families in regional NSW will become easier thanks to a $37.9 million investment in before and after school care.
 
Acting Premier Paul Toole and Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell today visited Bulahdelah Central School, one of 35 small regional schools to receive a financial boost to establish before and after school care in the community.
 
Mr Toole said the funding would help families access before and after school care, no matter where they live.
 
“This investment will give parents in small regional communities more flexibility and make the juggle between work and raising a family that little bit easier,” Mr Toole said.
 
“The NSW Government has committed more than $20 million to establish before and after school care services in smaller communities like Bulahdelah where a traditional service is unviable.”
 
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government is committed to delivering quality before and after school care to NSW families.
 
“This Government is supporting working families by expanding before and after school care services across NSW, creating an additional 19,420 before and after school care places over the last three years,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“We know that regional working families can struggle when there’s a lack of before and after school care services, as it often has a flow-on impact to parents participating in the workforce.
 
“Providing more before and after school care services has flow on effects in regional communities, making life easier for working families.
 
“This $37.9 million investment is on top of our existing $235 million commitment, to help support and grow the before and after school care sector to improve access and affordability for NSW families.”
 
The BASC package includes:

• More than $20 million to expand BASC provision in regional schools.
• More than $16 million for grants to improve transport services to BASC services.

List of 35 schools receiving a financial boost:

1. Adaminaby Public School
2. Afterlee Public School
3. Baradine Central School
4. Bemboka Public School
5. Bigga Public School
6. Binnaway Central School
7. Blackville Public School
8. Bobin Public School
9. Bogan Gate Public School
10. Bombala Public School
11. Bredbo Public School
12. Bribbaree Public School
13. Bulahdelah Central School
14. Bundarra Central School
15. Caragabal Public School
16. Condobolin Public School
17. Deepwater Public School
18. Delegate Public School
19. Ebor Public School
20. Ellerston Public School
21. Eumungerie Public School
22. Goolgowi Public School
23. Gulargambone Central School
24. Hernani Public School
25. Humula Public School
26. Jerilderie Public School
27. Jugiong Public School
28. Mathoura Public School
29. Murrurundi Public School
30. Narromine Public School
31. Nymboida Public School
32. Pallamallawa Public School
33. The Sir Henry Parkes Memorial Public School
34. Ungarie Central School
35. Wooli Public School

Thousands of students are now benefitting from faster, more reliable internet thanks to a $328 million investment by the NSW Government to connect every public school in regional NSW to fibre internet.
 
Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell were at Wattle Flat Public School in the State’s Central West today to mark the final 12 public schools in NSW to now be connected to fibre internet.
 
“The NSW Government is committed to offering the best opportunities to all NSW students no matter where they live – and that means have accessing to fast, reliable internet,” Mr Toole said.
 
“Partnering with Telstra has allowed us to move the remaining 12 public schools in NSW from satellite to fibre optic cable, ensuring much faster internet speeds for students and teachers.”
 
Mr Toole said the investment was driving improved communications right across regional NSW. 
 
“We are not just improving the connection to the world for our school kids but for entire communities,” Mr Toole said.
 
“By investing in internet infrastructure to the school gate, we are bringing opportunity to previously disconnected communities.”
 
Ms Mitchell said the NSW Government has spent hundreds of millions connecting regional schools to high speed internet, upgrading classrooms with new hardware and providing students and staff with new computers.
 
“Improving the internet access in regional schools is not just about faster connectivity, but also about greater access to teaching and learning opportunities for students and staff,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“This upgrade has seen an improvement to internet speed that will enhance teachers’ lessons, but also the opportunity for reliable video conferencing and professional development opportunities.”
 
Telstra Enterprise Public Sector Group Owner, John Ieraci, said the partnership was proof of Telstra’s commitment to investing in infrastructure across the country.
 
“We’re thrilled to have worked with the NSW Department of Education to ensure all students, regardless of where they live, will have access to the amazing learning opportunities that quality, high-speed connectivity brings,” Mr Ieraci said.
 
“In addition to the fibre rollout, this project has significantly upgraded the speed and capacity for more than 2,200 schools, delivering new learning capabilities and opportunities for students across the state.”
 
NSW Government has also invested $365.8 million in the Regional Access Gap to close the digital divide. This investment is delivering learning devices to students and teachers, smartboards and internet connectivity.

Almost 115,000 dwellings and land lots have been approved across NSW in the past year, expanding opportunities for first home buyers to purchase their first home.
 
Between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, 114,881 total dwellings and lots were approved through development applications.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said that the NSW Government is committed to supporting first home buyers purchase their own slice of the Australian dream.
 
“The $2.8 billion housing package announced in last month’s Budget includes $729 million for the First Home Buyer Choice to reform stamp duty, a significant barrier to first home buyers getting a foot on the property ladder,” Mr Kean said.
 
“This is all about giving first home buyers a choice – a choice between paying an upfront stamp duty or an annual property tax.”
 
On a four-bedroom house sold in Leppington for $1.04 million with a land value to property price ratio of 36 per cent, a first home buyer would have a choice between an upfront stamp duty of $41,890 or an annual property tax in the first year of $1,537.
 
Under the First Home Buyer Choice, first home buyers who opt into the property tax will pay an annual $400 plus 0.3 per cent of the land value component of the property. The annual tax stops being paid once the property is sold.
 
The median time owner occupiers hold onto homes in NSW is 10.5 years.
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the government
will do all it can to boost supply and give more people in NSW the opportunity of home ownership.
 
“The Government is investing almost $500 million to unlock land and accelerate infrastructure to boost housing supply, and we will use every measure we can to enable more people to own their own home sooner,” Mr Roberts said.
“We have paved the way for 23,000 dwellings through state-led rezonings including 7,000 rezoned lots in Glenfield and 3,000 in Rhodes, while planning proposals accounted for another 26,703 dwellings.”
The top three local government areas where lots and dwellings have been approved were:
Blacktown – 14,329
Sydney – 8,949
Parramatta – 8,633
 
The top three LGAs where rezonings were approved were:
Parramatta – 12,282
Camden – 9,410
Campbelltown – 8,022
 
Of the 114,881 approved dwellings and lots:
88,181 were in metropolitan areas
26,700 were in regional NSW