Category: NSW News

The Central Coast is on track for a major boost to education, jobs and liveability with the NSW Government securing the University of Newcastle as the preferred partner to deliver a Gosford university campus.
 
Minister for Infrastructure and Cities Rob Stokes said the campus would become the jewel in the crown of the new Central Coast Education and Employment Precinct.
 
“The Central Coast has all of the building blocks to be an economic and innovation powerhouse – proximity to Sydney and Newcastle, established local industries, health and transport infrastructure and a great lifestyle,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“The region is an important part of our six cities vision and we will make the Central Coast a premier destination to live, study, work and invest.”
 
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the University of Newcastle was identified as the preferred university partner for direct negotiations following an expression of interest process and evaluation.
 
“Building a university campus in the heart of the new Gosford city centre has strong community support and will increase access to education and employment opportunities close to home, creating a pipeline of skilled workers,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“Our universities were heavily impacted by the pandemic and developing the Central Coast’s higher education capability will help attract other education institutions and businesses to the region.”
 
Subject to successful commercial negotiations with the University of Newcastle, the campus is expected to be up and running within five years.
 
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch said the university campus would deliver local jobs and give local students an opportunity to get a world-class education without commuting.
 
“We’re growing the Central Coast as a world-class health precinct by improving health services and research opportunities right across our region,” Mr Crouch said.
 
Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said the design, development, construction and fit-out of the Gosford university campus extension will be funded by an $18 million injection from the Federal Government that was announced in 2019.
 
“Connected to the recently opened Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute, this announcement solidifies stage two of the University of Newcastle’s Gosford campus,” Ms Wicks said.
 
“When all levels of government work together, we really can achieve great things for our region.”
 
The proposed campus will be developed on a 4,650 square metre site at
299-309 Mann St, Gosford.

A new cost of living advertising campaign offering a boost to every household and business budget will go live today, designed to raise awareness of the more than 70 ways to save across the NSW Government Savings Finder program.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said since launching in 2017, the program had saved families around $5.8 billion, with Australian-first vouchers, rebates and initiatives designed to find savings in every aspect of daily life.

“We know how hard it is for so many families at the moment, which is why we are committed to easing the cost of living for all households across the State,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Whether you’re a family in Western Sydney, a retired couple on the coast, a young professional in the city, or a small business owner in our regions, we want to deliver you hip pocket savings.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said many families and businesses are unware of the various savings available, ranging from family activities to holiday vouchers.

“Our cost of living program is designed to help with everyday expenses including household energy and utilities, transport, raising children, dining, experiences and accommodation,” Mr Kean said.

“More than three million people have accessed the free Savings Finder tool, which has something for everyone. It can be easily found on either the Service NSW App, or the MyServiceNSW Account on the Service NSW website.”

Mr Kean said Savings Specialists are available in-person at Service NSW centres or via phone on 13 77 88, providing personalised assistance to find which initiatives are best suited to a family’s individual needs.

“To date, there have been more than 97,000 appointments made with Savings Specialists, saving households an average of around $770,” Mr Kean said.

“My message to families is simple – do yourself a favour and give the Savings Finder program a go or book an appointment with a Savings Specialist. You could walk away with extra money in your pocket.”

The campaign will run for four weeks across television, print, radio and social media.

Examples of the more than 70 savings available.

Program	Total Vouchers Issued	Value of Vouchers Issued
Creative Kids	2,054,594	$205,459,400
Active Kids	5,078,236	$507,823,600
First Lap	192,378	$19,237,800
Parents NSW	2,476,730	$123,836,500
Stay NSW	1,178,765	$58,938,250
Dine & Discover NSW	31,761,426	$794,037,000

Customers can explore the full range of options available through Savings Finder, by visiting https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/savings-finder

The NSW Government has released its new Koala Strategy, backed by an unprecedented amount of funding and more than 30 actions to conserve and grow koala populations.

Environment Minister James Griffin said the five-year plan is a comprehensive roadmap that will help deliver the NSW Government’s ambition to double the number of koalas.

“This $193.3 million NSW Koala Strategy is the biggest financial commitment by any government to secure the future of koalas in the wild,” Mr Griffin said.

“In fact, this is the largest investment in any single species in Australia, and demonstrates how committed we are to conservation and achieving our goal of doubling koala numbers by 2050.

“We know there are multiple threats to koalas, including loss and fragmentation of their habitat, compounded by the impact of the devastating 2019–20 bushfires, as well as vehicle strike and dog attack.”

The Strategy focuses on conservation actions under four themes:

• $107.1 million for koala habitat conservation, to fund the protection, restoration, and improved management of 47,000 hectares of koala habitat
• $19.6 million to supporting local communities to conserve koalas
• $23.2 million for improving the safety and health of koalas by removing threats, improving health and rehabilitation, and establishing a translocation program
• $43.4 million to support science and research to build our knowledge of koalas.

“This strategy will better secure 10 climate resilient koala stronghold locations from the Southern Tablelands, to Campbelltown and Lismore, which will receive intensive action in the next five years to support the existing populations there,” Mr Griffin said.

“Some of these actions include preventing vehicle strike and dog attacks, and restoring and protecting 47,000 additional hectares of habitat.”

A key part of the Koala Strategy involves establishing partnerships with conservation groups and communities.

Projects funded by the new Koala Strategy include:

• Partnering with Taronga Conservation Society Australia to restore more than 5,000 hectares of Box Gum grassy woodlands around the Western Slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Koalas will be translocated to the site once the woodland is re-established.
• Partnering with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Australia to protect 500 hectares of high quality koala habitat on private land under conservation agreements across the Northern Rivers region through the Biodiversity Conversation Trust.
• Working with volunteer wildlife rehabilitators, vets and other partner organisations to enhance co-ordination of emergency response for koalas and other wildlife due to bushfire or extreme weather events.

“We all want to see koalas thrive in the wild for generations to come, and everyone, including land managers, local councils, wildlife carers, citizen scientists and the NSW Government needs to be involved,” Mr Griffin said.

“Protecting and restoring habitat will also support other threatened and endangered species, such as powerful owls and glossy black cockatoos.”

The Strategy will help to fill key knowledge gaps and fund priority scientific studies to support koalas, including chlamydia vaccine trials.

The new Strategy builds upon the previous $44.7 million NSW Koala Strategy, which protected more koala habitat, invested in fixing koala roadkill hotspots, provided wildlife care training and funded scientific research, among other things.

To read the Koala Strategy, visit: environment.nsw.gov.au/koalas

The NSW Government’s $60 million Aviation Attraction Fund has landed two new routes on the State’s runway to recovery, with Qantas announcing Sydney- Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Sydney-Incheon services. 

Qantas will operate four weekly return flights from Sydney to Bengaluru, India’s third largest city, commencing 14 September 2022. These will be the first non-stop flights between Australia and southern India by any airline. Qantas Group, including Jetstar, will also operate seven weekly flights from Sydney to Seoul, commencing 10 December 2022. 

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said South Korea and India were key trade and visitor economy markets for NSW, with huge potential for future growth.  

“The timing of the new Bengaluru route is impeccable, it follows the signing last week of the new Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, which will create a multitude of opportunities for the visitor economy,” Mr Ayres said. 

“The new routes will bring a total of 11 flights from South Korea and India every week, providing 3277 seats into Sydney each week and supporting more than 360 jobs in NSW. 

“Prior to the pandemic, India was the fastest growing market to NSW, with Indian travellers spending an estimated $444 million in year ending December 2019.

“The majority of these visitors to NSW from India come to visit friends and relatives and there is a huge amount of pent-up demand after being separated for so long. 

“More than 77 per cent of South Koreans who visit Australia spend time in NSW and they spent an estimated $558 million in our visitor economy in 2019.” 

Mr Ayres said securing the new international routes was key to the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. 

“The NSW Government opened applications for the Aviation Attraction Fund program in February with the aim of building aviation capacity across the state,” Mr Ayres said.

“Sydney is the gateway to NSW, so supporting the return of airline routes through the Aviation Attraction Fund will be key to our recovery roadmap and achieving our goal of making NSW the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.” 

The Aviation Attraction Fund, managed by Destination NSW on behalf of the NSW Government, is open until 30 June 2023. For more information or to submit an application visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/aviation-attraction 

In a major boost for regional NSW, Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor has today announced the establishment of a new Regional Health Division for NSW Health.

Mrs Taylor said the new division will ensure there is a renewed focus on the health services and outcomes for people living in regional and rural NSW.

“The establishment of the Regional Health Division is a key step towards ensuring the public health system has the needs and expectations of the communities of regional NSW at its heart,” Mrs Taylor said.

“Everyday thousands of people receive quality care in our regional health centres, but we know that more needs to be done to address the issues facing health in regional areas, as highlighted by the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry, to ensure everybody receives good outcomes.

“The Regional Health Division will support the NSW Government’s commitment to bring a renewed focus on recruitment to key healthcare roles in regional NSW and to find innovative ways to support nurses, doctors, allied health practitioners, and the vital support service providers who work in healthcare facilities, to live and work in our regional communities.

“The Division will sit at the top level within the Ministry of Health and ensure strong advocacy of regional health issues, while also leveraging the strengths of our excellent, highly networked NSW public health system for the benefit of regional NSW.

“The Division will be led by a Coordinator-General for Regional Health, which will report directly to the Secretary of NSW Health, Susan Pearce, and support and provide advice to the Minister for Regional Health about issues concerning health in regional communities.”

In addition, each regional Local Health District (LHD) in NSW is establishing defined roles who will report directly and be a key interface with the new division to help deliver on its objectives. The division will have staff based in regional NSW.

The Regional Health Division will support the Regional Health Minister to:

• Support the swift delivery of the NSW Government’s regional health election commitments and the response to the recommendations of the NSW Rural Health Inquiry;
• Support and coordinate the development and implementation of a new Regional Health Plan;
• Provide a single point of contact and advocacy for issues that are common across the Regional Health environment, including matters of long term concern such as workforce attraction and retention, cross border issues and communication and engagement with communities, clinicians and stakeholders;
• Identify opportunities to enhance local access to health and other social services that support quality health outcomes, including IPTAAS policy and reporting and strengthening pathways to other social services;
• Integrate health, social and economic data, business intelligence tools, and stakeholder feedback.

Under the new Regional Health Division, local health districts (LHDs) will continue to deliver health services to their local communities.

Western Sydney will soon enjoy a greatly enhanced riverside walk and nature reserve thanks to work starting on a $13 million waterfront investment at Tench Reserve as part of the NSW Government’s $50 million Parks for People Program.
 
Tench Reserve in Jamisontown will see the creation of a new amphitheatre, inclusive playspace and improvements to the 7km River Walk stretching along the Nepean River, and is the first of eight new and upgraded parks to begin construction.
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the works would support a growing community in Western Sydney and deliver improvements to more than 11 hectares of regional open space close to homes.
 
“This is a milestone for the Parks for People Program as the first  to get underway, inspired by one of Penrith’s most beautiful natural assets, the Nepean River,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“Along with the upgraded wharf precinct and improved amenities, the park will feature an inclusive playspace, better access to the water, landscaping and 80 new trees.”
 
Mr Roberts said Parks for People would create hundreds of new jobs from its $50 million investment in new open spaces, including in Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Parramatta, Penrith, Northern Beaches and The Hills.
 
Minister for Western Sydney and Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres said six of the eight parks in the program were in Sydney’s West and would support the Government’s priority of increasing the proportion of homes in urban areas within ten minutes’ walk of quality green, open and public space.
 
“We’re working in partnership with councils to set a new standard for high-quality public open space, with easily accessible places to relax, exercise, and connect with families and friends in the beauty of well-designed green spaces,” Mr Ayres said.
 
“The upgrades build a stronger connection between the park and the river and will support our vision of making the Nepean River precinct an exceptional destination for nature and recreation. Our investment in the river precinct has made it the beating hear of Penrith”
 
Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said the Nepean River was the region’s greatest natural asset and a much-loved recreational destination for residents and visitors alike.
 
“Penrith City Council welcomes the upgrade of Tench Reserve through the Parks for People Program. The upgrade aligns with our vision of enhancing the natural environment and supporting active and healthy lifestyles through connections with the river,” Cr Hitchen said.
 
Tench Reserve is due to be completed in December 2022 with the other parks to get underway throughout the year.
 
For more information please visit dpie.nsw.gov.au/tench

In a major milestone, the new road surface has been laid on the WestConnex M4-M5 Link Tunnels paving the way for the completion of the 7.5km motorway.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the missing link between Haberfield and St Peters, will slash travel times and provide more reliable journey times for motorists.

“With the road paving, excavation and tunnel breakthroughs complete, the last of the roadheaders have packed up and left the M4-M5 Link Tunnels site, allowing us to move into the final stages of construction before we open to traffic,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Once complete, WestConnex will reduce travel times by up to 40 minutes between Parramatta and Sydney Airport by bypassing up to 52 sets of traffic lights.”

“This critical project will help transform Sydney’s road network helping more people get to where they need faster and take the pressure off our local roads with the new link having capacity for up to 100,000 vehicles a day.”

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the completion of the ‘missing link’ in the WestConnex will significantly reduce traffic and heavy vehicles on congested local streets like Parramatta Road.

“WestConnex is one of the most significant road infrastructure projects in the country, and it’s already having an impact on the lives of Sydneysiders by improving connections across the city,” Minister Fletcher said.

“More than 10,000 workers have been involved in the M4-M5 Link Tunnels so far, with around 40 per cent of them from Western Sydney.

“Today marks another significant milestone in the delivery of this project with the road paving having now been completed meaning for the first time, we are able to drive from one end of M4-M5 Link Tunnels to the other.

“The Morrison Government continues to work closely with the NSW Government to deliver city shaping infrastructure projects like WestConnex – the last stage of which will be completed next year.

“What this will mean for the people of Sydney is less time spent in traffic and more time with loved ones, and the ability to move around the city more easily for work, which has a positive economic and productivity impact.”

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the NSW Government is committed to transforming the way we move around Sydney.

“Our motorways play a vital role in getting commuters where they need to be, with a quicker and more reliable journey,” Mrs Ward said.

“The M4-M5 Link Tunnels form a critical aspect of our transport planning, taking the pressure off local roads and helping commuters spend less time behind the wheel and more time with their loved ones.

“Now we are entering the next exciting stage, fitting out the tunnels and getting them ready for drivers, who will be able to experience the full benefits of WestConnex when the project is completed next year.”

The countdown is now on to delivering the final piece of the 33km world-class motorway, with work also continuing on the Rozelle Interchange.

Transurban Group Executive for WestConnex, Andrew Head, said the first stages of WestConnex are already reducing travel times and improving safety and liveability.

“With 40 per cent of Sydney expected to live within five kilometres of WestConnex within the next decade, this project will transform the way we move as part of a mobility revolution across our city,” Mr Head said.

“We have already seen air quality improve by 10 to 15 per cent in parts of the inner west since the opening of the M4 tunnels, while travel times have reduced by up to an hour and safety has improved by up to 40 per cent.”

The M4-M5 Link Tunnels remain on track to open in 2023.

WestConnex also includes new parks, open spaces, urban artworks and 23 kilometres of new and improved pedestrian and bike paths.

For details on the WestConnex M4-M5 Link Tunnels, see https://www.westconnex.com.au/roads-projects/m4-m5-link-tunnels/.

The State’s strong economy and excellent financial management have been highlighted in a report from international credit ratings agency S&P Global.
 
S&P’s first biannual update of NSW underscores the strength of the State’s recovery and economic fundamentals, including a record low unemployment rate despite the COVID-19 Omicron outbreak.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said the report shows the NSW Government is successfully steering the State through COVID-19 and is helping the economy bounce back from the biggest downturn since the Great Depression.
 
“NSW is the only state in Australia with a triple-A rating and currently holds a double-A plus credit rating with S&P Global,” Mr  Kean said.
 
“S&P Global’s report highlights our State’s diversified economy, excellent financial management, exceptional liquidity and our record low unemployment rate.”
 
S&P Global downgraded NSW’s credit rating from triple-A to double-A plus in December 2020 due to the impact of the pandemic, with the Government supporting businesses and households with significant COVID-19 relief programs and health spending.
 
In February this year, NSW posted both its lowest unemployment rate since monthly records began 44 years ago, and the lowest unemployment rate among the states, falling to 3.7 per cent.
 
S&P Global’s report states the NSW economy is “maintaining momentum despite omicron bumps” and that “excellent financial management continues to support the ratings on NSW”.
 
“We expect a reasonably quick return to cash operating surpluses, supporting our stable outlook on the State.”