Category: NSW News

The Aboriginal flag will fly permanently on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge following NAIDOC week celebrations, completing a commitment made by the NSW Government earlier this year.
 
“From today, one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks will celebrate our Indigenous people and provide an everyday reminder of our nation’s rich history,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“Our nation’s story is rich and enduring and flying the Aboriginal flag permanently above the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a celebration and acknowledgment of that.
 
“Honouring this commitment is part of our ongoing commitment to recognise the history, culture, excellence and achievements of Aboriginal people and is a fitting end to NAIDOC week 2022.”
 
The NSW State Flag remains a vital part of our heritage and this will be showcased in a place of prominence as part of the revitalisation of the Macquarie St East precinct redevelopment.
 
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said the $25 million announced in the NSW Budget to place a permanent third flag pole on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will instead be allocated towards indigenous initiatives.
 
“This builds on the NSW Government’s commitment to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people across NSW, following a $716 million investment in this year’s Budget to prioritise Closing the Gap initiatives,” Mr Franklin said.
 
“I am proud to be part of the Government that will permanently fly the Aboriginal flag above the Sydney Harbour Bridge and I am happy that a further investment will be made to deliver real outcomes for Aboriginal people across NSW.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said this is the right decision to ensure the flag can be flown permanently as quickly as possible, whilst recognising the significance of the Aboriginal flag.
 
“As has been outlined all along, the process of installing a third flagpole high above one of the busiest traffic corridors in Australia was always going to be difficult and this decision ensures the Aboriginal flag can remain permanently,” Mrs Ward.
 
“The Macquarie Street East precinct redevelopment will now be expanded to include a prominent NSW State flag, which recognises the important and rich history of Macquarie Street to the heritage of NSW.”

Ground-breaking drone technology is being used by Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews to help spot and clear leftover flood debris in cane fields across the Northern Rivers.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the drones, known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), are proving invaluable to the ongoing clean-up and recovery effort.
 
“The flood event in February and March had such a devastating and widespread impact, including for many cane farmers who four months on are still finding debris strewn through their fields,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“Items like fridges, washing machines, gas cylinders, shipping containers and even a swimming pool are being found in cane fields across the Northern Rivers. This sort of debris could damage farming equipment like harvesters and risk ruining harvest season activities, which is the last thing our growers need after being impacted by the floods.
 
“The waters may have receded months ago but the recovery is ongoing and the NSW Government is committed to using any and all means necessary to the help the flood-affected communities of the Northern Rivers bounce back.”
 
Two teams of drone operators from FRNSW’s Bushfire and Aviation Unit have been in the Northern Rivers to identify and map the location of dangerous debris.
 
FRNSW Deputy Commissioner Megan Stiffler said it’s the first time the drones, purchased with funding in response to the Black Summer bush fires, have been used in the flood recovery effort.
 
“We conduct reconnaissance flights using smaller drones and if they identify dangerous or bulky waste material, we send up the larger RPAS’s which can pinpoint the size and location of the debris.
 
“Once we process the data, we can send QR codes to the cane growers, which then provide them with real-time maps of their properties, identifying where the obstacles are located.”
 
The growers can then remove the debris with the help of Resilience NSW and the Environment Protection Authority.

Your local bus or garbage truck could soon be equipped with a new technology that will track and prioritise road repairs, including identifying potholes before they form.
 
The NSW Government is funding Asset AI™, a $2.9 million trial – currently involving 32 sensors installed on 32 public transport buses across Greater Sydney area – which is being led by Transport for NSW and the Roads and Transport Directorate.
 
The new technology can be combined with local weather observations to predict the rate of deterioration and streamline how road asset maintenance is prioritised.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the new sensors were another example of the NSW Government using technology to improve outcomes across the State.
 
“The people of NSW have embraced digital services through products like the ServiceNSW app, Dine and Discover vouchers, Fuel Check and Park’nPay and expect modern service delivery,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“There will always be cracks in the road and there will always be potholes but with smart tech like this we can predict deterioration, streamline maintenance and get to better outcomes much faster.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said this cutting edge technology is revolutionising road maintenance across the state.
 
“It’s a brilliant use of resources already on our roads. Mounting cameras and sensors onto vehicles with regular routes, like garbage trucks and public transport buses, ensures road defects are captured incidentally, including those un-reported by residents,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“This AI technology assesses the captured footage and logs any road defects detected into a database in near-real time, meaning it will find potholes and cracks in the road before they find you.”
 
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said road data is also being collected outside of the city with a utility vehicle mounted with cameras scanning 100 kilometres of rural roads, across regional NSW.
 
“A ute with the road scanning camera and user interface mounted is travelling across 100 kilometres of regional NSW roads to detect and report on road conditions,” Mr Farraway said.
 
“We will have it out collecting data along the Great Western Highway between Lithgow and Bathurst, the Sturt Highway near Wagga Wagga and around Spring Ridge in the Upper Hunter.”
 
A pre-trial was undertaken with Canterbury-Bankstown Council last year, Asset AI™ is now being developed with initial camera and sensor trials underway across Greater Sydney.
 
Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said Asset AI™ will save councils and ratepayers money and improve road safety.
 
“We do an audit of our roads once every four years and it is very expensive. This new technology will allow us to do it on a weekly basis instead,” Cr Asfour said.
 
“Asset AI uses predictive analysis to improve road maintenance by predicting the risk to the community rather than just reporting the condition of the road assets, and that’s great news for our residents.”
 
IPWEA NSW and ACT operate the Roads and Transport Directorate, which is a joint venture with Local Government NSW.
 
The organisation’s President Grant Baker said Asset AI™ could revolutionise current practices.
 
“This initiative is a game-changer for local government to re-imagine the way they currently assess and audit roads to fully benefit from new technology,” Mr Baker said.
 
“It’s all about putting communities at the centre of everything we do.”
 
Further testing is being rolled out across regional and metropolitan regions including Georges River, Blayney, Central Coast, Liverpool, Wingecarribee, Sutherland, Warren Shire, Liverpool Plains, Griffith, Tamworth, Wollongong, and Murray River Councils in September.
 
The Asset AI™ project is funded by the NSW Digital Restart Fund and is expected to be available to all NSW Local Government areas in late 2023.

Louise Sauvage, Cathy Freeman, Betty Cuthbert and Sam Kerr are some of the sporting legends who could be honoured under a NSW Labor commitment to naming stadium stands after female sports icons – starting with a stand at Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium). 
 
A Minns Labor government will conduct a public consultation process to determine which sporting icon will be honoured first, in response to calls for better recognition of great female athletes.
 
Currently, the Sydney Cricket Ground does not have any stands named after female athletes and the new Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park has named four men who will have stands named after them.
 
Stadium Australia in western Sydney does not have names allocated to any of its stands.
 
NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns said:

Sitting in a stadium stand named after a female sporting legend will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of female athletes at the Olympics, Rugby League or in the A-League Women. It’s a no brainer – and there’s no shortage of wonderful female sporting legends in Australia to choose from.”
 
“Female participation in sport is growing rapidly in NSW, yet we do not recognise great female athletes appropriately. We will make a start in fixing this by naming a stand in Stadium Australia.”

Shadow Minister for Sport Julia Finn said “What better way to acknowledge the contribution of female athletes than by naming a stand at Stadium Australia”.
 
“But we want every new stadium project in Sydney and regional NSW to recognise female sport legends in a similar manner”.
 
Shadow Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said “We are quick to recognise the contribution of men in sport, but there is little recognition of women and that needs to be fixed.”
 
The NSW Government owns and operates four stadiums in Sydney through Venues NSW, and one stadium each in Newcastle and Wollongong.

Homeowners, buyers and the property service industry will benefit from stronger accountability and transparency with more than 83,000 strata schemes across the State able to register and consolidate their details into a new digital Strata Hub.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said with more than one-in-seven NSW residents living in strata, it was crucial they were provided with accurate and up-to-date information.
 
“Buying and living in a strata scheme is a significant investment of time and energy and relevant information can be difficult to find,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“The Hub will evolve to act as a one-stop shop for those living in, or looking to, purchase a strata property.
 
“Strata living is a popular option for couples and families and this platform will enable them to make more informed decisions about where they live. NSW, after Ontario in Canada, is the only place in the world to offer something like this for its people.”
 
Minister for Fair Trading Eleni Petinos said the Hub would be a game changer for prospective buyers and homeowners.
 
“The Hub will be easy to use and allow people to access a wealth of clear information on strata issues anywhere, anytime,” Ms Petinos said.
 
“Whether you’re after the facts on keeping a furry friend, renovating, or repairs and maintenance in strata, you’ll be able to find it at the click of a button in one centralised hub.
 
“This a big win for those living in or wanting to live in strata – it will provide them with more transparency and hold strata schemes to account.”
 
The reporting platform is now open for registrations, which means owners corporations or their managing agents can register their details and do a proof of identity check to complete their profile on the strata portal.
 
In August, strata schemes or their managing agents can submit regulatory information such as fire and safety information and occupation certificates. The search function will also feature geo spatial mapping so people can locate strata schemes faster.
 
From 2023:
 

• The nominated emergency service contacts will be shared with emergency services agencies;
• All people wanting to buy, live and work in strata can register on the strata portal to access tailored general information about strata living at www.nsw.gov.au including, basic strata information about plan numbers, street addresses, number of lots and registration dates.

Strata scheme residents and owners will also be able to register on the strata portal to review:

• All the information available to the general public;
• Webinars and how to information for strata scheme reporting;.
• Date of issue for the latest annual fire safety;
• Whether the scheme has formed a strata renewal committee and its date;
• Contact details for the strata manager and building manager (if any).

 
All strata schemes in NSW will soon need to report key information online each year.
 
For more information visit www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/annual-reporting.

Visiting Sydney’s iconic Royal Botanic Garden is now even easier, thanks to the NSW Government’s popular Park’nPay technology going live in the area.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the Park’nPay app would allow people looking to enjoy the city’s green spaces to pay for and top-up parking through their phone. 
 
“Park’nPay has been a game changer for drivers, by giving them a bird’s-eye view of parking spots across the State, and putting more power in the palm of their hands,” Mr Dominello said. 
 
“Whether you’re enjoying the outdoors or a coffee or meal with friends, you won’t have to rush back to the meter and can now extend your stay online.
 
“With just the tap of a button drivers can pay for any of the up to 400 of the Garden’s parking spaces for the exact amount of time they need the spot for.”
 
Mr Dominello said almost 109,000 drivers have downloaded the Park’nPay app since its launch in 2019, with about 92 per cent giving it the thumbs up.
 
“It is great to see the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney come on board, which means visitors can spend less time worrying about finding a meter and more time enjoying the stunning natural beauty,” Mr Dominello said,
 
Park’nPay is available in a number of locations including The Rocks, Ryde, Cumberland, Liverpool, Mosman, Central Coast, Hunters Hill, Burwood, The Northern Beaches, Port Stephens, Willoughby, Armidale, Woollahra and NSW National Parks.
 
The app also provides information on real-time parking availability for 21 Transport for NSW Commuter Carparks, locations of electric vehicle charging stations and more than 18,000 private driveways to rent.
 
For more information visit: https://parknpay.nsw.gov.au     

More than 100 newly qualified paramedics have joined NSW Ambulance this week as part of the NSW Government’s record $1.76 billion boost to frontline emergency care.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said he was thrilled to see 102 university graduate paramedics start their six-week induction course at the new NSW Ambulance headquarters at Homebush ahead of a 12-month internship.
 
“This new wave of recruits joins more than 6,500 NSW Ambulance staff. Thanks to the NSW Government’s record $1.76 billion investment in frontline emergency care under the 2022-23 NSW Budget, this will make NSW the largest paramedic workforce in Australia,” Mr Kean said.
 
“The NSW Government is investing in more than 2,128 FTE NSW Ambulance staff over the next four years as we strengthen frontlines services to ensure people have access to emergency care across the state.
 
“After a very tough couple of years with COVID-19, we are increasing the capacity of available paramedics to respond to patients, as well as support staff to answer the record volume of calls.”
 
The NSW Government has invested more than $10 billion in NSW Ambulance since 2011. The latest paramedic recruits will be deployed where they are most needed in both metropolitan and regional areas.
 
“We’re making record investments in the NSW Ambulance workforce and its infrastructure with another 30 stations also opening as part of the $1.76 billion commitment,” Mr Kean said.
 
“Our strong economic management means we can deliver a brighter future for NSW families by ensuring the very best emergency care is available to them when they need it.”
 
Offers to a further 50 paramedic graduates have already been made. They are set to commence in the coming months, with further recruitment ongoing.
 
Across the next four years, 1,858 paramedics will be funded as well as 210 ambulance support staff, 52 nurses and eight doctors.
 
The NSW Government will also deliver 30 new stations including at Warilla, Kincumber, Lisarow, Gateshead, Swansea, Cherrybrook, Raby and Narellan in the coming year, with 22 more stations to come over the following three years.

Everyone in NSW is being asked to ensure they are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations and to practise COVID-safe behaviours as the current wave of infections, driven by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, continues to grow.
 
There are fears the number of serious illnesses and death toll will increase significantly unless more people immediately get boosted and practise COVID-safe behaviours.
 
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said figures show 56 per cent (1,232) of COVID-related deaths this year were in people who have had two or fewer doses.
 
“We are at the beginning of the third wave of Omicron which is likely to peak in late July or early August. This increase in community transmission brings with it greatly increased risks for those not up to date with their vaccines,” Mr Hazzard said.
 
“The best way you can protect yourself from serious illness or worse is to get every vaccination that is available to you.”
 
If you are fully vaccinated you have 65 per cent greater protection against hospitalisation or death from Omicron than two vaccine doses alone affords, according to data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.
 
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said in addition to booking in for a booster, people should exercise common sense and wear a face mask in public indoor spaces, where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
 
“Face masks, hand hygiene, staying home when ill, testing yourself when symptoms present, physically distancing, all these measures are not new to us,” Dr Chant said.
 
“Unless we pull together as one again, this new wave will hit schools and businesses hard, just like BA.1 did, which saw thousands of workers absent.”
 
Elderly people and those with underlying health conditions are reminded to speak to their GP or health professional about antiviral medications if they contract COVID-19. Antivirals work best when taken within five days from when symptoms onset.
 
COVID-19 booster doses are recommended for anyone 16 years and older who had their last dose of a primary course at least three months ago.
 
To find your nearest vaccination clinic, visit nsw.gov.au.

Eight police dogs and their handlers will graduate alongside 200 new probationary constables at today’s Police Attestation ceremony in Goulburn.

Acting Police Commissioner David Hudson will swear-in the 200 new probationary constables, four detection police dogs and four general purpose police dogs who will be accompanied by their instructors.

The police dogs completed the NSW Police Detection and General Purpose Novice Courses in 2019 and 2021, but have not been able to graduate until now due to COVID restrictions.

The 200 probationary constables will be deployed to police stations across the state from next week (Monday 27 June 2022) where they will complete their year of onthe-job training. Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said every Attestation ceremony was a significant occasion for the Police Force and the community.“I congratulate our newest probationary constables, who will be deployed to areas where they are needed the most,” Mr Toole said.

In 2019 the NSW Government announced a record investment in police, with an additional 1500 officers over four years and committed $60 million to upgrade the Goulburn Police Academy.

“We are proud to offer our continued support to the NSW Police Force to ensure it has the very best people, training facilities, and technology to keep our communities safe,” Mr Toole said.

Acting Police Commissioner David Hudson said the ceremony was an important opportunity to recognise the commitment of Class 353, as well as their families and friends.

“Behind every police officer and every probationary constable is a family and a network that plays a critical role in supporting our people,” Acting Commissioner Hudson said.

“It’s more important than ever that we ensure our police have our utmost support so that they can enjoy long and successful careers.

“It’s also a unique and special occasion when we see new police dogs enter the Force. The value police dogs bring to policing – including criminal investigations and critical incident response is significant and should be recognised.”

Acting Assistant Commissioner Toby Lindsay said a career in policing was exciting and rewarding.

“As a probationary constable engaged in general duties policing you can expect to be working with and helping the community,” Acting AC Lindsay said. “You will also undertake a wide range of investigations including motor vehicle accidents, stealing offense, assaults and more.

“In addition to general duties policing, there are more than 100 specialist roles in support of our frontline police and community.”

Landholders impacted by the current flood event across NSW can now access immediate support through the reactivated Agriculture and Animal Emergency Services hotline on 1800 814 647.
 
Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said significant work has already been undertaken as part of the flood emergency response to provide support to communities as quickly as possible.
                                                    
“The NSW Government put plans and processes in place in anticipation of this flood emergency to ensure we were ready to respond and provide immediate support to primary producers, landholders and the broader community,” Mr Saunders said.
 
“Although the full extent of the damage across the State is varied and yet to be realised, we are providing emergency support to landholders, including providing emergency fodder, animal assessments and welfare checks, and emergency safe places for livestock and domestic animals.
 
“As the flooding continues to unfold in the coming days, the staff on the ground and in the response centres will adapt as required to provide the necessary support for local landholders and community members.
 
“The Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services are working together to assist landholders and communities with animal welfare and agriculture related issues arising from the current flood event devastating NSW.”
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said an animal-safe space at Castle Hill is now open to temporarily house livestock and domestic animals, with the potential for more sites to operate in the coming days.
 
“With further heavy rainfall forecast, landholders and community members are urged to move their livestock and domestic animals to higher ground and consider evacuating animals, where safe to do so,” Ms Cooke.
 
“With many properties impacted by flooding this hotline will help landholders manage their livestock and animals and keep them safe as this flooding continues.”
 
To keep up to date with the latest information, visit www.nsw.gov.au/floods, dpi.nsw.gov.au/floods or www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/emergency-and-biosecurity/floods.